Summary bars

Summary bars can be displayed on an outlined schedule. These special task rows display summary information for task rows that are of a lower level. In the example below the summary bars are displayed for each street name.

Tutorial Lesson 6 - Outline a schedule

Summary bars can be formatted in these areas under the Layout | Other | Summary Bar Settings...

Choose the default symbols and bar for summary bars:

This setting is the default summary bar symbology display.

1. Choose Layout | Other | Summary Bar Settings...

2. Choose the Starting Symbol, Bar, and Ending Symbol to be displayed on summary rows.

Summary bar settings

Summary row calculations

For Calculation/Indicator SmartColumns, calculations on summary rows can be turned-off.  The result is a roll-up of lower-level values.

To not perform calculations on summary rows:

1. Select the Calculation/Indicator SmartColumn.

2. In the Column Type and Format section, click the Properties button.

3. Do not do calculation on Summary Rows and the values will roll-up (add up) from lower levels to upper levels instead of being calculated.

Override a selected task's summary bar color

This setting overrides the summary bar's fill color for the selected task row. Set the normal and baseline bar colors separately.

1. Click once on the summary row in the column area.  This will display the Selection menu.

2. In the Summary Bar Color section, next to Summary Bar Color Override, select a color for the horizontal bar.

3. Next to Baseline Summary Bar Color Override, select a color for the baseline horizontal bar.

Roll-up (collapse) tasks to summary bar

Tasks can be collapsed or expanded easily.  One way is to use the roll-up indicator in the column. 

Turn on collapse/expand indicators.

Roll-up of lower level symbols and bars

Normally, summary bars display a time span reflecting the first start date and the last end date of the underlying project steps.

It's possible to cause all of the lower level symbols and bars to be displayed on the summary bar.

1. From the menu, choose Layout | Other | Summary Bar Settings...

2.  Split Summary Bars using Lower Level Symbols/Bars.

Display a specified symbol on a summary task row

Individual symbols which appear on sub-task rows can be displayed on summary task rows. Choose to display the symbol on all summary levels or on a specified summary level.

In the example below, Task A2's symbol is "rolled-up" to outline level 1.

Display a specific symbol on all summary rows:

1. Click  (the toolbox Arrow tool.) 
2. Click once on the symbol. This displays the Selection menu.
3. On the Summary tab, choose Include this Symbol on all Summary Bar levels.

Display a specific symbol on specific summary level(s):

1. Click  (the toolbox Arrow tool.) 
2. Click once on the symbol. This displays the Selection menu.
3. In the Summary tab, choose Include this Symbol on this Summary Bar level.
4. Choose the summary level that this Summary Bar level refers to: .
5. In the example above, the selected symbol will appear on the parent task row at outline level 1.

Hide the date in summary row date columns

Summary level dates in the Status Date SmartColumn can be hidden. The computed summary status date is the date closest to the place where the summary bar is filled in to show a percent complete. If this date has no meaning, it might be desirable to the summary status date.

1. Choose Layout | Other | Summary Bar Settings...

2. Exclude Computed Status Dates in Summary Rows.

Symbols on summary levels may have dates or symbol text to hide. If summary task rows display single summary bars, use the first method below. If summary task rows display Split Summary Bars using Lower Level Symbols, use the second method below.

Hide dates shown on start and end symbols

1. In the toolbox, find the symbols used for the summary bars.

2. Double-click on one of the symbols.

3. Choose the Text and Date Properties tab.

4. Under Date Placement, choose Hide.

5. Repeat for the other summary bar symbol.

Hide dates and/or text for "Split summary bars" setting:

When lower level symbols and bars are rolled-up to summary levels, it's possible to hide the symbol dates or symbol text on the summary level using this method:

1. Choose Layout | Other | Summary Bar Settings...

2. Hide Dates on Rolled up Symbols.

3. Hide Text on Rolled up Symbols.

This also works for individual symbols which are rolled-up.

About moving symbols on summary bars

Symbols on summary rows move automatically when symbols on lower level task rows move. They are drawn automatically based on the dates in the lower level tasks. Therefore, they cannot be selected or moved independently.   Summary row settings can be changed in Layout | Other | Summary Bar Settings.  The above is true if When to Draw is on Always or Only When Rolled Up, as Milestones is drawing the summary symbols automatically.  If Never is chosen then summary bars can be added manually.