Charts (schedules)

Save the schedule as a chart (.mlp format) to retain all information including dates and formatting.  Charts can be exchanged with other users of Milestones Professional 2023 or saved in older version formats to exchange with those using older versions.  

Start a new schedule with the default template

1. On the toolbar, choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | New | New Empty schedule.

Start a new schedule using a the new schedule wizard

1. On the toolbar, choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Wizard.
2. Make selections in the wizard.  Click Finish at any time.

Clone an existing schedule

1. Open the schedule to be cloned.

2. On the toolbar, choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | New | Clone Current schedule.

3. Pick a start date for the new schedule.

Open an existing schedule

1. On the toolbar, choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Open | Chart.

2. Click the drive that contains the schedule.

3. In the list of folders and files, browse to the folder which contains the schedule.

4. In the list of files, click the schedule name.

5. Click Open.

Open a recently used schedule

Pick from a list of recently used schedules by choosing the list labeled:  Open a recently used file.

Save the current schedule under the same name:

1. Press the Save  icon on the File tab (or the smaller icon which is always available on the toolbar) to save the current schedule chart under the same name.  (The CTRL+S keyboard shortcut can be used instead.)

   Set the default folder for charts, templates and more: choose Tools | Program Options | Folders. 

Save the current schedule under a new name:

1. Choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Save As... | Chart.

2. Enter the new name.

3. Click Save.

Save the current schedule in version 2017, 2019 or 2021:

1. On File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options, click Save As... | Chart.

2. On the drop-down menu, choose from one of the Save A Copy As... choices.

   If sharing schedules with others who have an older version of Milestones Professional, it is recommended that the schedule be saved first in the 2025 format and then a copy to share be saved in the earlier version.  

Milestones schedules can be attached to any symbol or task row as a hyperlink. Activating the hyperlinked schedule results in that schedule opening in Milestones.

Open a schedule hyperlinked to a symbol:

1. Click (the toolbox Arrow tool.)

2. Right-click the symbol that has a schedule linked to it.

3. Select the name of the schedule at the bottom of the menu.

Open a schedule hyperlinked to a task row:

1. Right-click the task row that has a schedule linked to it.

2. Choose Hyperlink and the file.

- or -

1. Click the hyperlink icon associated with the task row.

2. In the Select Hyperlink to Launch dialog box, choose the Milestones file from the list of files.

Autosave

If Autosave is turned on, then any opened schedule that has been changed since the last Autosave will be Autosaved at the time intervals specified. If there is an unexpected system problem or crash, then when Milestones Professional is started up next, it will offer a list of files which auto-saved prior to the crash.  Choose one of the autosaved files to continue working.

Turn on Autosave:

1. Click Tools | Program Options | Files and Automation.

2. Pick one of the options for Autosave Frequency.

 The default Autosave Frequency is Never.

Password protect a schedule

A password can be associated with a file to control access to a Milestones schedule.  Choose to limit access to those who have the password, allow read-only access to those without the password, or prevent anyone without the password from opening the file.

1. Choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Password.

2. Enter the password.

3. Click OK.

4. The next time the file is saved, the password will be applied and will be required if to re-open the file.

 To require a password for those who need to edit the file, but not require one for viewing the file, check   Allow File to be Opened Read-Only without a Password.  Use a password which can be easily remembered. In the event of a password emergency (lost password, important file) visit www.kidasa.com/passwordreset.html for details.  The free Milestones Viewer can also be used to control file security.

Lock the schedule layout

It is possible to lock various aspects of the schedule's layout. Optionally, a reason for the lock along with contact information for questions can be entered.

1. Choose Layout | Page Size | Lock Layout.

2. Click Lock Layout.

3. In the dialog box Reason to Lock, optionally insert text to display when attempts to change the layout are blocked.

4. Check boxes next to Layout items to lock. These choices will be blocked from editing until the layout is unlocked.

Rename a schedule

1. Click File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Open | Chart.

2. Locate the file to be renamed.

3. Right-click once on the file name.

4. Choose Rename from the list of available options. The file name will be highlighted.

5. Type over the old name with the new name for the schedule. Be sure to retain the file extension(.mlq).

 Open schedules can not be renamed. Excluding the .mlq extension from the new file name may make the file unusable

Merge schedules into a single schedule:

1. Open the main schedule, or the first schedule to include in the merged schedule.

2. Choose File | Files and Templates: Open and Save Options | Open a File | Chart to Merge.

3. Locate the schedule to merge.

4. Double-click the file name.

5. Repeat from step 2 until all the schedules have been merged.

Tips for merging schedules:

• The first schedule opened (before starting to merge) contains all of the formatting information for the merged schedule, including rows per page, toolbox formatting, and more.

• Each merged schedule will appear below the previous schedule.

• To maintain the original schedule as is, save the merged schedule under a new name.

• If using a WBS number SmartColumn, be sure to merge in each schedule in the correct WBS order. Each WBS section merged should have a level one task which represents the WBS number.

 If you need to merge schedules together on a regular basis, create a master schedule.

Set the default file save location

1. Choose Tools | Folders.

2. Browse to pick a default folder for Charts (schedules).

Set up a schedule on a network which other users can view

You might want to have a schedule available in a shared location for other users to view but not edit.  

1. On the File tab, choose Password.

2. Add a password that you can remember easily!

3.  Allow file to be opened read-only without a password.

4. Save the schedule.