Microsoft Project Refresh - Milestones refresh options dialog

Choosing the right options when refreshing makes a huge difference in the outcome of the refresh.  The dialog box is shown here, and options are described below.

1. Refresh Using: Select the identifier used when the schedule was imported or tagged.
2. Symbol Text: Updates text/values attached to symbols with the source field’s text/values.  Check on to access the following sub options
   1. Refresh Symbol Text:  If this is checked, the symbol text will be updated.  If left un-checked no text updates are made.
   2. Update only symbols with symbol text tags: Tagged symbols will update with new selected source field.  Symbol text on symbols without a tag will not be affected.
   3. Update start and finish symbols using:  Symbol text on all start and finish symbols will be updated with the source field selected under Start: and Finish:.   
      • Start: Pick 3 fields for start date symbols.
      • Finish: Pick 3 fields for the finish date symbols.
   4. Update start and finish symbols using:  Symbol text on all start and finish symbols will be updated with the source field selected under Start: and Finish:.  
      • Finish: Pick 3 fields for the finish date symbols.
3. Symbol Notes: Updates text/values attached to symbols with the source field’s text/values.  Check on to access the following sub options
4. Percent Complete: Control if and how percent complete is updated.  Refresh percent complete:  Select from percent complete, percent work complete, physical percent complete or a number field to have Milestones’ symbols and/or horizontal bars fill to status based on the value from task row’s tagged unique id. Update individual bars & symbols:  Will refresh the fill to status based on the selected value; percent complete, percent work complete, physical percent complete or a number field for each symbol, or symbol, horizontal bar, symbol combination.  Choose this option when multiple task are on a single task row in the Milestones schedule.
5.   Options for refresh:

• Refresh tagged columns:  Updates column text/values with the source field’s text/values.
• Update dependent symbols: Any symbol in the Milestones schedule that is not tagged and is dependent on a tagged symbol will move the same number of days the tagged symbol moved during the Refresh process.
• Ignore Times:  When checked, only the date is used to update.  The hour and minute are ignored.
• Highlight Changed Dates: Causes any dates which are changed during the Refresh process to be highlighted. Once highlighted, it’s possible to toggle the display on and off by checking or un-checking the Refresh Highlighting in Connections | Other.
• Reset Date Range: Check this if the date range (start/end dates) of the Milestones chart should be changed to reflect the changes made during the Refresh process.  If this option is not checked, the schedule’s date range will not be changed and new dates might not be visible.
• Append New Tasks from Project:  Check to add all new or flagged Microsoft Project task(s) with specific symbology, symbol and bar style, and text to the end of the Milestones schedule or on and below a specific Milestones task row.  Choose Customize button to make selections. moremore

   

  Tasks to bring in:  Select which new tasks added to Microsoft Project file will be added to the Milestones schedule.

  All Tasks:  Check on to have all new tasks added to the Microsoft Project file.

  Task with this flag:  Check on and pick the flag field from the drop down menu to limit the new tasks imported. First set up a flag field in the Microsoft Project file, then mark all new tasks to be imported into the Milestones schedule with yes.

  Add new tasks: Select where the tasks should import.

  At bottom of schedule:  Check on to have all new Microsoft Project task(s) import at the bottom of the Milestones schedule.

  Add/merge on rows specified:  Set up a number column in Microsoft Project and enter the Milestones task row number the Microsoft Project information is to be imported into.  Then check on this option and select the number field from the drop down menu.

   

   

• Symbology:  Select the Customize Symbology button to have the Custom Symbology (see pg. 10-8) dialog display.  Pick the symbology, symbol and horizontal bar style and position as well as text to be imported for the new Microsoft Project task(s).
• Report obsolete milestones: Tagged symbols in the Milestones schedule that are no longer in the Microsoft Project file will be reported in the Refresh Results report.
• Highlight obsolete milestones: Tagged symbols in the Milestones schedule that are no longer in the Microsoft Project file will be changed to  a question mark symbol.
• Report Missing Project tasks:  When selected, all tasks in your Microsoft Project file that were not selected for importing will be reported in the Refresh Results report.
• Constraint Field: Milestones Professional has symbol constraints that can be applied to imported symbols during the Refresh process.  moremore

   

  Set up a date field in Microsoft Project file containing the constraint date.  In the Constraint Field select the date field that was set up.  Two new fields display.

  In Type select one of the constraint options must be on this date, no later than, no earlier than, lock to this date, display notes on this date, and launch hyperlink on this date.

  In Add to select the date field in Microsoft Project to have the constraint applied.