Options dialog - General tab

How to access the Options dialog

To access the Options dialog, click the File tab, then click Options.

Explanation of the fields and buttons on the dialog

Field/Button	Description
Most recently used list - Number of items	Specify the number of recently opened projects that can be listed on the Open tab of the Backstage view.
Notification macros	Some macros can be invoked by an event. For example, you could write a macro to display an alert if a task slips beyond its finish flag date. Specify whether you want this type of macro to be permanently enabled, permanently disabled, or for Asta Powerproject to ask you whether to enable or disable them when you open a project. Macros are not available in Asta Powerproject SaaS.
Meaning of double-click - On parent	Click the Properties radio button to specify that double-clicking a parent task or Library Explorer folder should display the object's Properties dialog, or click the Open/Close radio button to specify that double-clicking should open or close the object.
Meaning of double-click - On non-parent	Click the Properties radio button to specify that double-clicking a task or Library Explorer object that has no subordinate objects should display the object's Properties dialog, or click the Make parent radio button to specify that double-clicking should turn the object into an expanded task or a Library Explorer folder, as appropriate.
Tabular reports	Select this check box to use the Tabular Report Wizard to create new tabular reports, rather than the Tabular Report Properties dialog. The Tabular Report Wizard makes it easier for you to create new tabular reports and base them on template reports if you wish. Clear this check box if you prefer to use the basic Tabular Report Properties dialog to create new tabular reports. Creating a new tabular report
Show blank template	Select this check box to display the 'blank' template on the New tab of the Backstage view in addition to other available templates, or clear the check box to force the use of a template when creating new projects. If you do not have any preset templates, the 'blank' template option appears regardless of what you specify here. Starting a new project
Tab Options	Click this button to display the Tab Display Options dialog, which you can use to configure the way in which views are displayed in tabs. Configuring how views are displayed in tabs
Always open chat dialog on incoming message	Select this check box to open the New Messages dialog automatically whenever you have an incoming chat message from another user that is connected to the same Enterprise server, or that is collaborating on the same Asta Vision programme, or clear the check box to display incoming chat messages in the status bar. Messaging is not available in Asta Powerproject standalone (unless you are collaborating on an Asta Vision programme) or Asta Powerproject SaaS. Receiving messages from other users
Show lead/lag popup	Select this check box to display the amount of lead/lag time when you draw a link that starts midway through a task, or clear the check box to hide this popup. Drawing links with lead/lag time
Version 5 variance signing	This check box determines whether the Start and Finish variance fields, which compare dates in the current project with corresponding dates in a baseline, display positive or negative values. Select the check box to display positive values if the value in the current project is less than the baseline, and negative values if the project value is greater than the baseline. Clear the check box to display negative values if the value in the current project is less than the baseline, and positive values if the project value is greater than the baseline. Displaying baseline information in the spreadsheet
Sort correct dates for active filters	Select this check box to use the dates of visible tasks only in a filtered view to calculate the bar start and finish dates, or clear the check box to use the dates of all tasks on a bar to calculate the bar start and dates, even if some of the tasks are not visible as they do not meet the filter criteria. Specifying how filters affect bar start and finish dates
Show common histogram slice options only	Select this check box to show only the most commonly-used histogram report slicing types on the Report tab of the Histogram Report Properties dialog, or clear the check box to display all of the available slicing types. Restricting the number of slicing types that are available to the most common ones makes it easier for inexperienced users to create histograms. Specifying the way in which histogram reports are sliced
Active Directory server filtering	If you use Active Directory® to manage the users on your network, you can configure the Asta Enterprise system to allow users to log onto servers and projects automatically, using the security and access control provided by Active Directory. Configuring the Asta Enterprise system to use Active Directory means that users do not have to enter user names and passwords when they log onto their projects. The steps you must take in order to configure the Asta Enterprise system to enable users to log on automatically via Active Directory are explained in the Server Admin Help. As part of the process, you must select this check box within each project to which you want users to be able to log on automatically. Select this check box to enable users to log onto this project automatically via Active Directory, or clear the check box to force them to enter their user name and password. This check box is not available if your deployment of Asta Enterprise includes a web-based Server Admin.
Toolbar macro enablers	If you have written a macro and placed it on a toolbar, you can write an ENABLED_ version of the same macro to make the appearance of its toolbar button change depending on whether the macro is enabled or disabled. Select this check box to invoke these ENABLED_ macros. If this check box is cleared, any macro buttons will always appear enabled.
Show week numbers on date picker	Select this check box to display week numbering in the drop-down date picker controls that you can use to select dates in Asta Powerproject, or clear the check box to omit week numbering from the date pickers. Entering dates and times into the spreadsheet
Allow calculations in numerical fields	Select this check box to enable the editing of numbers using mathematical operators, or clear the check box to disable this - thereby allowing the entry of negative values in certain fields. Specifying whether it is possible to edit numbers in numerical fields using +-*/
Show close project Vision check in warning	Select this check box to display a warning if you attempt to close a programme that you have checked out of Asta Vision, without having checked it in; clear the check box to enable you to close Asta Vision programmes without being warned if you have not checked them in. Checking programmes into Asta Vision
Check for product updates	Select this check box to check for a new version of the software each time you launch Asta Powerproject, or clear the check box to turn off automatic new version checking. If you select this check box, whenever a new version is available, a message is displayed when you launch Asta Powerproject.
Default baseline colour	Specify the foreground colour to apply to baseline tasks and allocations by default. The colour you select in this field is applied to all baselines that you create or import from that point onwards - including any baselines that are downloaded from Asta Vision when you check out or download an Asta Vision programme. If you want to change the foreground colour of individual baselines, you can do this by selecting the baseline in the Baseline/What If Manager dialog and selecting a different foreground colour in the Appearance fields. Setting baseline display options
Reset Dialog Sizes	Click this button to reset any dialogs that you have resized back to their original size. Resizing dialogs
Do Not Show Me Again Prompts	Click this button to display the Show Prompts dialog, which you can use to specify the way in which to deal with warning and notification prompts within Asta Powerproject that give you the option not to be warned again, and to turn any such prompts that you have turned off in the past back on. Dealing with warning and notification prompts
Save every x minutes	Select this check box if you want Asta Powerproject to save the active project automatically. If you select the check box, the active project will be saved automatically according to the period you specify - for example, every five minutes. If you clear the check box, the active project will not be saved automatically; it will be saved only when you choose to save it. You cannot work on a project while it is in the process of being saved. While this should not be a problem with small projects, you may find that automatic saves interrupt your flow when you work with larger projects. If you are working with a very large project, you might find it useful to disable auto-saving so that the automatic saves do not interrupt your work. Configuring Asta Powerproject to save automatically

... specify the number of files to display in the list of recently opened projects that appears on the Open tab of the Backstage view?

Select the number of files in the Most recently used list field. You can access the files that appear in this list instantly by selecting them from the Open tab of the Backstage view.

... specify the way in which macros that notify of events should appear?

Specify whether you want notification macros to be enabled or disabled, or whether you want to be able to select this each time you open a project in the Notification macros field.

Macros are not available in Asta Powerproject SaaS.

... specify the action performed when I double-click the mouse in various situations?

Select the action you want Asta Powerproject to perform in the Meaning of double-click group.

... specify whether to use the Tabular Report Wizard or the Tabular Report Properties dialog to create new tabular reports?

Select the Tabular reports check box to use the Tabular Report Wizard to create new tabular reports (this makes it easier to create tabular reports based on templates), or clear the check box to use the Tabular Report Properties dialog to create new tabular reports.

... specify whether to display the 'blank' template on the New tab of the Backstage view?

Select the Show blank template check box display the 'blank' template on the New tab of the Backstage view in addition to other available templates, or clear the check box to force the use of a template when creating new projects.

... configure the way in which views are displayed in tabs?

Click Tab Options. The Tab Display Options dialog appears, which you can use to configure the way in which views are displayed in tabs.

... specify what happens when I receive an incoming chat message from a user connected to the same Enterprise server?

Select the Always open chat dialog on incoming message check box if you want the New Messages dialog to appear when you receive a message, or clear the check box if you want new messages to appear in the Asta Powerproject status bar.

Messaging is not available in Asta Powerproject standalone (unless you are collaborating on an Asta Vision programme) or Asta Powerproject SaaS.

... specify whether a popup should appear when I draw links, displaying the amount of lead/lag time?

Select the Show Lead/Lag popup check box to display the amount of lead/lag time when you draw a link that starts midway through a task, or clear the check box to hide this popup.

... specify the way in which the Start and Finish variance fields display positive and negative values?

The Version 5 variance signing check box determines whether the Start and Finish variance fields, which compare dates in the current project with corresponding dates in a baseline, display positive or negative values.

Select the check box to display positive values if the value in the current project is less than the baseline, and negative values if the project value is greater than the baseline.

Clear the check box to display negative values if the value in the current project is less than the baseline, and positive values if the project value is greater than the baseline.

... specify the way in which bar start and finish dates are calculated in a filtered view?

Select the Sort correct dates for active filters check box to use the dates of visible tasks only in a filtered view to calculate the bar start and finish dates, or clear the check box to use the dates of all tasks on a bar to calculate the bar start and finish dates, even if some of the tasks are not visible as they do not meet the filter criteria.

... specify which histogram report slicing types I want to be able to choose from?

Select the Show common histogram slice options only check box if you only want to display the most commonly-used histogram report slicing types in the Type field on the Report tab of the Histogram Report Properties dialog, or clear the check box if you want to display all available slicing types.

... enable users to log onto this project automatically via Active Directory?

To enable automatic logging on to a project, select the Active Directory server filtering check box, or clear the check box to force users to enter their user names and passwords when they attempt to open a project.

... specify the way in which ENABLED_ macro toolbar buttons should appear?

Select the Toolbar macro enablers check box if you want toolbar buttons to change their appearance depending on whether the ENABLED_ macro to which they are linked is enabled or disabled, or clear the check box to display these buttons as enabled all the time.

... specify whether to display week numbering in date picker controls?

Select the Show week numbers on date picker check box to display week numbering in the drop-down date picker controls that you can use to select dates in Asta Powerproject, or clear the check box to omit week numbering from the date pickers.

... specify whether it is possible to edit numbers in numerical fields using +, -, * and /?

Select the Allow calculations in numerical fields check box to enable the editing of numbers using mathematical operators, or clear the check box to disable this - thereby allowing the entry of negative values in certain fields.

... specify whether to display a warning if you attempt to close an Asta Vision programme without having checked it in?

Select the Show close project Vision check in warning check box to display a warning if you attempt to close a programme that you have checked out of Asta Vision, without having checked it in; clear the check box to enable you to close Asta Vision programmes without being warned if you have not checked them in.

... specify whether to check for a new version of the software each time you launch it?

Select the Check for product updates check box to check for a new version of the software each time you launch Asta Powerproject, or clear the check box to turn off automatic new version checking.

... specify a foreground colour to apply to baseline tasks and allocations by default?

Specify the foreground colour to apply to baseline tasks and allocations by default in the Default baseline colour field.

The colour you select in this field is applied to all baselines that you create or import from that point onwards - including any baselines that are downloaded from Asta Vision when you check out or download an Asta Vision programme.

If you want to change the foreground colour of individual baselines, you can do this by selecting the baseline in the Baseline/What If Manager dialog and selecting a different foreground colour in the Appearance fields.

... reset any resized dialogs back to their standard size?

Click Reset Dialog Sizes.

... configure the way in which to deal with warning and notification prompts?

Click Do Not Show Me Again Prompts. The Show Prompts dialog appears, which you can use to specify the way in which to deal with warning and notification prompts within Asta Powerproject that give you the option not to be warned again, and to turn any such prompts that you have turned off in the past back on.

... configure Asta Powerproject to save automatically?

Select the Save every x minutes check box if you want Asta Powerproject to save the active project automatically. If you select the check box, the active project will be saved automatically according to the period you specify - for example, every five minutes. If you clear the check box, the active project will not be saved automatically; it will be saved only when you choose to save it.

Options dialog - General tab

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