Bar Chart Defaults Properties dialog - Task tab
You use the Task tab of the
Bar Chart Defaults Properties dialog to specify the attributes that you want to assign to new tasks by default and to select the task defaults profile that you want to use in the current project.
In some circumstances, you may prefer new tasks to inherit certain key attributes from a neighbouring task rather than from the bar chart defaults. You can specify that new tasks should inherit code library assignments, calendar and the 'use parent calendar' setting, plus the WBS code, from a neighbouring task rather than from the bar chart defaults. To do this:
- Click the File tab, then click Options. The Options dialog appears.
- Click the Edit tab.
- Select the Inherit attributes from neighbouring task check box to specify that new tasks should inherit these attributes from a neighbouring task where possible, or clear the check box to specify that they should inherit these attributes (except WBS code) from the default settings that have been defined on the Task tab of the Bar Chart Defaults Properties dialog.
- Click OK.
How to access the Bar Chart Defaults Properties dialog
To access the Bar Chart Defaults Properties dialog, on the Project tab, in the Properties group, click Bar Chart Defaults.
Explanation of the fields on the dialog
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Duration | Enter a default duration for new tasks that you create without specifying a duration (for example tasks that you create by typing a start date into the spreadsheet). |
| Calendar |
Select the calendar to apply to new tasks by default. The calendar you choose to use by default is identified as such in the project view: it is displayed with a different icon.
If you change the default calendar, the Calendar Settings dialog appears. You use this dialog to specify whether you want to use the same calendar for folding away non-working time in the date zone and for displaying non-working time on subheading bars, and whether this only applies to the current view or to all your user views. |
| Use parent calendar | Select this check box to specify that the calendar that is applied to the immediate parent task should be applied to new tasks by default, or clear the check box to specify that the calendar specified in this dialog should be applied to new tasks by default. |
| Placement |
Specify whether new tasks should be placed ASAP, ALAP or ASAP Force Critical on their bars by default.
|
| Levelling priority | Enter the resource levelling priority to be applied to new tasks by default, where 0 is the lowest priority (the task is more likely to affected by levelling) and 100 is the highest priority (the task is less likely to be affected by levelling). |
| Start on new day |
Select this check box to force new tasks to start on a new day following
|
| Can be delayed | Select this check box to specify that new tasks can be delayed by resource levelling by default, or clear the check box to specify that tasks cannot be delayed by levelling. |
| Milestone type |
Specify whether new milestones are configured to be Start or Finish milestones by default.
|
| Milestone placement |
Specify whether new milestones should be placed ASAP, ALAP or ASAP Force Critical on their bars by default.
|
| Start milestone appearance |
Specify the appearance to apply to new start milestones by default. You may want to apply a different appearance to start and finish milestones to differentiate between them.
Specifying which milestone appearances to apply to new start and finish milestones by default |
| Finish milestone appearance |
Specify the appearance to apply to new finish milestones by default. You may want to apply a different appearance to start and finish milestones to differentiate between them.
Specifying which milestone appearances to apply to new start and finish milestones by default |
| Work | Enter a default amount of work to apply to new tasks. |
| Work unit | Select the work unit in which to measure work that is applied to new tasks by default. |
| Code libraries | This column displays an entry for each available code library. Select one or more codes from each code library that you want to assign to new tasks by default. The codes you choose to use by default are identified as such in the project view: they are displayed with a different icon. |
| Task defaults profiles | Your task defaults are saved automatically in the task defaults profile that is currently selected in this field. You can save more than one set of task defaults for each project. For example, you may want to use a different set of task defaults for each chart in a project. Select the task defaults profile that you want to apply to the project in this field. Only the default profile is available until you save more than one profile. |
How do I...
... specify the attributes to assign to new tasks by default?
Use the fields on the dialog to make your selections.
... save my task defaults as a separate profile?
- Click Save As. The Save Task Default Profile dialog is displayed.
- Enter a name for the profile and click OK. You return to the Bar Chart Defaults Properties dialog, where the new profile name is displayed in the Task defaults profiles field.
- Specify the attributes that you want to assign to new tasks by default under this new profile.
... select a different task defaults profile for use in the current project?
Select the profile you want to use in the Task defaults profiles field. New tasks are now assigned the attributes that are saved within the selected profile, until you select a different profile.
... delete a task defaults profile?
- Select the profile that you want to delete in the Task defaults profiles field.
- Click Delete.
Setting defaults for bar chart objects
Using multiple task defaults profiles
Specifying which calendar to use by default