Templates

Templates save time by keeping a customized toolbox, columns, column headings, page layout, and more. In this way, templates retain the formatting (the "look" of a chart) while charts preserve schedule details, such as column text, symbols, task bars, chart title, and more.  Standard templates are distributed with the Milestones software and should not be changed.  Personal templates are designed and saved by the Milestones user.

Template vs. Chart

After setting up the toolbox, columns and legend, this Milestones schedule was saved as a template.  The template was then applied to a blank schedule, resulting in the chart below. The template retained the color theme, column titles, date range, toolbox symbology, date heading types, column formatting, legend entries, and more.

Example of a chart

This is a typical chart based on the template above.

Apply a template to a schedule

1. Open the schedule if it is not already open.

2. Choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Open .

3. Choose Personal Template or Standard Template.

4. Choose the template.  

Save a personal default template

Milestones can start new schedules with the same columns, toolbox, page dimensions and more.  These settings are stored in a special template file named default.mtp. The default.mtp file can be saved to either the Personal Templates folder or the Standard Templates folder.  If there is a default.mtp file in both folders, the Personal Template folder's default.mtp file is used.

Save a new default.mtp (default template)

1. Set up a schedule with the format and toolbox required.

2. Choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Save As... | Standard Template or Personal Template.

3. Name the template default.mtp.

4. Click Save.

5. If asked to replace the existing file, click OK.

Start a new schedule with a template

Open a blank schedule and then apply a template to format that blank schedule. Then proceed to add schedule data such as start and end dates, column text, a chart title, and more.

1. Start a new schedule by choosing File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | New on the toolbar.

2. Then choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Open | Personal Template or Standard Template.

3. Select the file name of the template you want to open (an .MTP file) and choose Open.

Save a template

1. Click File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Save As... | Personal Template.

2. Enter a template name in the field labeled File Name.

3. Click Save.

Open a template to a specific outline level

Open a template onto an exiting schedule and automatically roll-up that schedule's tasks to a specified outline level.  

This makes it easier to have executive summary templates since they can be set to hide all tasks past a certain level when the template is opened.  

Format a template to open to a specified outline level

1. Before saving the template, choose Tools | Program Options | Files and Automation.

2. Choose an outline level for Open Template initial outline level.

3. Save the template.

1.  The default remains “No Change” on open (no outline level filter upon opening a template onto a schedule).  This option works both from File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Open | Template, and the OpenTemplate OLE Automation command.

Items saved in a template

When saving a file as a Personal Template or Standard Template, these elements of the schedule are saved with the template.

1. • The schedule layout - chart size, margins, column widths, legend height, rows per page

   • Background color, frame and shadow

   • Calendar icons in date SmartColumns

   • Chart title text format and background format (but not the chart title text)

   • Column headings and SmartColumn settings

   • Column Text Containing filters which were saved

   • Current date line and text display

   • DataGraph and ValueSet formatting

   • Date headings and all timescale settings

   • Date sensitivity options

   • Default symbol size

   • Default text styles

   • Dependency mode setting

   • Embedded pictures

   • Gridline settings

   • Legend entries and legend format

   • Month and weekday name overrides

   • Multi-Column Sort names which were saved

   • Override Symbol Date and Text Display options

   • Page number display

   • Status line display toggle and properties

   • Symbol date format

   • Toolbox settings, including the size of the toolbox, and the symbols and bars used

   • View modes: Gantt, Calendar, Duration, Percent Complete

Items NOT saved in a template

When saving a file as a Personal Template or Standard Template, these elements of the schedule are NOT saved with the template.

1. • Bars and lines in the DataGraph

   • Bookmarks

   • Freeform text

   • Picture files which are not embedded

   • Hidden menu items (this is a global setting applied to all schedules)

   • Lines, circles or boxes drawn with the drawing tools

   • Number and currency formats

   • Schedule title

   • Sidebar and toolbar shortcut button list (this is a global setting applied to all schedules)

   • Symbols and bars on the schedule

   • Task names on the schedule and any text entered into columns

   • Values in the ValueSets