Milestones Symbol Maker

Milestones Professional offers a built-in Symbol Maker, making it possible to create a variety of symbol shapes. These user-defined symbols can be saved as symbol files (.SYM files). Those .SYM files can then be added as symbols in the Toolbox, to be used as any other symbol.

On the toolbar, choose Tools | Other Tools | (Create or Edit Custom Symbol) to start the Symbol Maker.

As shown below, symbols are created by clicking on grid points. Those points are connected by lines which define the symbol's shape. A preview of the symbol is shown to the right as a green shape.

All enclosed parts of the shape, as well as single line extensions, constitute the symbol shape.

Create a one-part, user-defined symbol:

1. Choose Tools | Other Tools |   (Create, Edit, or Manage Custom Symbols)

2. The Symbol Maker blank grid will appear. Click on  (the symbol maker's add tool) which appears to the right of the grid.

3. Click on the grid with the left mouse button. A grid point appears.

4. Click again to place a second point on the grid, and see the line appear between the first and second points.

5. Continue placing points on the grid until an enclosed figure has been created.  End by clicking on the original point, to enclose the shape. This is an example of a one-part symbol.

6. Click the  (delete point tool) to undo the most recent additions to the shape.

7. To move established points from one location to another, click the  (move point tool) and then click and drag existing points on the grid.

8. When finished, click File | Save to Symbol file or Save as Embedded Symbol.

   • File | Save to Symbol File to save the .SYM file to the Symbols folder. Any Milestones schedule can use this symbol. These symbols can be embedded later.

   • File | Save as Embedded Symbol to save the symbol as a part of that schedule. Embedded symbols automatically have EMBEDDED: attached to the beginning of the symbol name, e.g. EMBEDDED:symbol1.sym.

   • Embedded symbols are recommended the schedule containing the custom symbol will be shared with others.

9. Name the file and Save.

10. Choose File | Exit Symbol Maker.

  The current grid size is 400 x 400.  Versions of Milestones Professional prior to 2025 had a custom symbol grid of 40 x 40. If an old symbol is opened and saved it will be upgraded to the new grid size.

Create a symbol with multiple parts

It is possible to use the Symbol Maker to create symbols with more than one enclosed area. For example a circle would be a single-part symbol, while a pinwheel would be a multiple-part symbol.

pinwheel.sym

Create a multi-part, user-defined symbol:

1. Choose Tools | Other Tools |   Create or Edit Custom Symbol.

2. The Symbol Maker blank grid will appear. Click on  (the add point tool)  which appears to the right of the grid.

3. Click on the grid with the left mouse button. A red grid point appears.

4. Click again to place a second point on the grid, and see the line appear between the first and second points.

5. Continue placing points on the grid until an enclosed figure has been made (end by clicking on the original point, to enclose the shape). For example, each of the four triangles above are enclosed shapes.

6. Once finished with one enclosed part of the symbol, click once with the right mouse button at the place that to begin the next piece of the symbol.

7. Next, use the left mouse buttonto click on grid points until the next piece of the symbol is completed.

8. Click with the right mouse button at the spot where to begin the next piece. Continue in this fashion until the multiple part symbol is complete.

1. • Click  (the delete point tool) to undo the most recent additions to the shape.

   • To move established points from one location to another, click  (the move point tool) and then click and drag existing points on the grid.

9. When finished, click File | Save to Symbol file or Save as Embedded Symbol.  (Embedded is generally best.)

   • File | Save to Symbol File to save the .SYM file to the Symbols folder. Any Milestones schedule can use this symbol. These symbols can be embedded later.

   • File | Save as Embedded Symbol to save the symbol as a part of that schedule. Embedded symbols automatically have EMBEDDED: attached to the beginning of the symbol name, e.g. EMBEDDED:symbol1.sym.

   • Embedded symbols are recommended if the schedule containing the custom symbol will be shared.

Save a user-defined symbol:

1. Choose File | Save to Symbol file.

2. Name the file and Save.

Embed a user-defined symbol in the schedule:

1. Double-click the symbol in the toolbox.

2. Embed Above Symbol in File.

Add the user-defined symbol to the toolbox:

1. In the toolbox double-click on a symbol which should be replaced with the user-defined symbol, such as a .SYM or .BMP file.

2. Under User Defined Shapes, choose the symbol from the list. The list contains all .SYM and .BMP files in the Symbols folder.

3. Optionally, choose to embed the symbol in the Milestones file.