Vertical links

Up to 8 vertical links can be set up in a toolbox.  

1. Double click any toolbox vertical link to get started.
2. For Color, click the color and pick a color.
3. Pick a Line Pattern from the list.
4. Pick a Shape.  (See list of shapes to the right.)
5. Pick Normal or Triangular for Arrowhead type.
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6. Pick Small, Normal or Large for Arrowhead Size.   Adjust for chart symbol size to increase/decrease the arrowhead size based on the chart's default symbol size.
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7.  Show on top to force vertical connectors to be shown on top of bars. (This setting affects all vertical connectors on the schedule.)
8.  Rounded corners if all vertical links should have rounded corners (This setting affects all vertical connectors on the schedule.)
9.  Draw lines for page spanning Vertical Connections to always show connectors even if symbols are not on the page.  (if a symbol linked on page 1 is lined to a symbol on page 4, the vertical link will not be shown on pages 2 and 3 unless this option is checked.)
10.  Draw off-page connection bubbles or arrows to keep track of vertical links that span pages on a multi-page schedule.  Bubble icons (or arrows) will be drawn to indicate that the links refer to dates on other pages.  
    1.  3-D Look to highlight the connection bubbles with a simulated light source and shadow.  
    2.  Arrow Instead of bubbles to use directional arrows instead of bubbles.

Toolbox:

Vertical Link Options:

 Vertical Link Shapes: 

Each symbol (predecessors)can have up to 5 vertical links originating from it. They can connect to any other symbol (successor) on another task row. Then, when symbol dependency mode is turned on, and a symbol is moved, any dependent symbols will move by the same amount of time.

Set up a dependency

1. Click  (the toolbox Plus tool.)
2. In the schedule area, click once on the symbol from which the vertical link will begin.
3. In the toolbox, click once on the vertical link to be used.
4. In the schedule area, click once on the symbol that completes the connection from the first symbol. A vertical link is drawn between the two symbols.

Set up many dependencies at once:

This method should only be used when only one start symbol and/or one end symbol are on each task row.

1. Click  (the toolbox Plus tool.)
2. Select a range of task rows or non-contiguous task rows whose symbols will link vertically.
3. Choose Insert | Vertical Links | Vertical Links between selected task rows.
4. Choose Downward or Upward links.  Pick a connector and choose OK.

If your schedule is similar to the above (very dense) or if your schedule has many pages, you may find it challenging to add vertical links between symbols. Using the Milestones Professional Toolbar, it's possible to select symbols individually using either the keyboard or the mouse and then connect them in a separate step. This new methodology saves time and is less prone to error.

1. Use the mouse or keyboard to select the parent, or "from" symbol.
2. On the toolbar, choose the Vertical Links tab. The row and symbol index for the symbol you have selected will be shown.
3. Click for the From Symbol.

4. Locate and select the second, or To Symbol.
5. Click for the To Symbol.  
6. Choose Connect Now.  The connection will be added.   

Delete vertical links:

Delete links from a single symbol

1. Click  (the toolbox Arrow tool.)

2. Right-click the originating symbol of the vertical connection.

3. Choose Clear Vertical Links.

Delete all vertical links from selected task rows:

1. Hold the Ctrl key and select each task row that contains the symbols from which the vertical links originate. (Hold the Shift key to select a range of task rows.)  This will display the Selection menu.

2. Choose Selection | Task Row Settings | More Task Row Options | Clear Vertical Links.

Delete selected vertical links:

Up to five vertical links can extend from a single symbol. Selected vertical links can be deleted in the Symbol Properties dialog box.

1. Click  (the toolbox Arrow tool.)

2. Click once on the symbol from which the vertical links extend.  This will display the Selection menu.

3. Choose the Vertical Links tab.

   • The vertical links are numbered.

   • Linked to Task Row indicates the task row number at which the vertical link ends.

   • Linked to Symbol indicates the symbol at which the vertical link ends. The number is the symbol's position counting from left to right with a base of 1.

4. Click the Break Link button for the appropriate vertical connection.

Hide or show vertical links

Hide vertical links:

1. View | Optional Items | Task Links.

Show vertical links:

1. View | Optional Items | Task Links.

Highlight dependent symbols