Specifying how to display expanded tasks, summary tasks and hammocks

You can display expanded tasks, summary tasks and hammocks in the following ways:

• Using their standard appearance.
Illustration (using a summary task as an example)



• Using the same appearance as normal tasks.
Illustration



When you display summary tasks and hammocks using the same appearance as normal tasks, you can still double-click them to open and close them; when you display expanded tasks as normal tasks, you can still double-click them to open the subcharts within the expanded tasks.

• As subheadings, with all spreadsheet columns populated.
Illustration



When you display summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks as subheadings with all spreadsheet columns populated, the tasks themselves are not displayed in the bar chart but all of the spreadsheet columns in the current table are populated with information relating to the tasks as if they were being displayed. Note that any columns for which the Blank for subheads check box has been selected on the Table Definition Properties dialog will not display any information.

As summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks are hidden from view using this display option, you cannot open and close them by double-clicking them. Instead, you should navigate through the project hierarchy using the project view.

Any other tasks that are located on the same bar as a summary task, expanded task or hammock are also hidden from view, and it is not possible to create new tasks on these subheading bars. For this reason, it is good practice to ensure that summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks do not share bars with other tasks if you choose to use this display option.

• As subheadings, with only the name of the expanded task, summary task or hammock displayed.
Illustration



When you display summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks as subheadings with only the name displayed, the tasks themselves are not displayed in the bar chart and the spreadsheet columns in the current table are not populated with information relating to the tasks, except for the Name column. Note that the name of the tasks appears even if the Name column is not displayed in the current view.

As summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks are hidden from view using this display option, you cannot open and close them by double-clicking them. Instead, you should navigate through the project hierarchy using the project view.

Any other tasks that are located on the same bar as a summary task, expanded task or hammock are also hidden from view, and it is not possible to create new tasks on these subheading bars. For this reason, it is good practice to ensure that summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks do not share bars with other tasks if you choose to use this display option.

To specify how to display expanded tasks, summary tasks and hammocks:

1. On the Format tab, in the Format group, click Format Bar Chart. The Format Bar Chart dialog appears.
2. Click the General tab.
3. Specify your expanded task, summary task and hammock display options in the Show expanded/summary/hammock tasks as fields. You can select a different method of display for each of the task types if required. For example, you may wish to display expanded tasks and summary tasks as subheadings, but to display hammock tasks using their standard appearance.

As well as these display options, you can also choose to highlight bars that indicate the project hierarchy - ie those that contain expanded and summary tasks. This can look particularly effective if you choose to display summary tasks and expanded tasks as subheadings.

Necking summary tasks and hammocks to show the location of subordinate tasks

You can 'neck', or 'pinch' summary tasks and hammocks to show whereabouts within the summary groups or hammocks the subordinate tasks are located. If you choose to neck summary tasks and hammocks, they appear 'pinched in' in locations where there are no tasks within the summary groups and hammocks, and at their normal height where there are one or more tasks. Where a milestone appears in a summary group or hammock, a vertical line appears on the summary task or hammock to indicate its location.

To specify that summary tasks and hammocks should be necked to show the location of subordinate tasks:

1. On the Format tab, in the Format group, click Format Bar Chart. The Format Bar Chart dialog appears.
2. Click the Non-Working tab.
3. Select the Neck summary tasks to show where no tasks check box.

Note that you cannot neck summary tasks and hammocks at the same time as displaying non-working shading on tasks and that this necking is not applied to views when they are displayed in 'jagged progress' mode.

Specifying whether to display + and - buttons in the Name column for summary tasks and hammocks

You can choose whether to display and buttons in the Name column of the spreadsheet on bars that contain summary tasks or hammocks. If you choose to display these buttons, you can click them to open and close the summary tasks or hammocks on the bar in question. Note that these buttons do not appear in printouts.

To specify whether to display and buttons in the Name column of the spreadsheet on bars that contain summary tasks or hammocks:

1. Click the File tab, then click Options. The Options dialog appears.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Select the Include +/- button on summary name column check box to display and buttons in the Name column of the spreadsheet on bars that contain summary tasks or hammocks, or clear the check box to omit these buttons.
4. Click Close.

Related Topics:

Working with charts

Working with summary tasks

Working with hammocks

Highlighting bars that indicate the project hierarchy