Overlapping Tasks and Milestone Rows Settings dialog
You use the Overlapping Tasks and Milestone Rows Settings dialog to specify the way in which tasks appear on bars that have been configured to allow overlapping tasks. You can also use this dialog to specify that milestones should appear on their own row within bars, rather than mixed in with other - non-milestone - tasks. This setting applies to all bars - even those that have not been configured to allow overlapping tasks.
How to access the Overlapping Tasks and Milestone Rows Settings dialog
To access the Overlapping Rows and Milestone Rows Settings dialog, click the Settings button on the Tasks tab of the Format Bar Chart dialog.
Explanation of the fields on the dialog
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Separation % |
Enter a percentage to specify the vertical separation between tasks on bars that allow overlapping tasks. Percentages higher than 100 make it easier to see any links between the tasks in separate rows; percentages lower than 100 result in the tasks overlapping each other vertically.
Note that this field also sets the vertical separation between tasks and milestones on bars on which tasks cannot overlap, if you have clicked the Show in their own row radio button.
|
| Show descending (top to bottom) |
Select this check box to specify that overlapping tasks should be drawn below the main row of tasks on a bar, or clear the check box to specify that they should be drawn above the main row of tasks.
Specifying whether overlapping tasks are drawn above or below the main row of tasks |
| Place with tasks |
Click this radio button to specify that milestones should be placed in the same way as other tasks on bars that allow overlapping tasks, with coincident milestones separated from each other and from other coincident tasks using the specified separation percentage.
Specifying where to display milestones in bars with overlapping tasks |
| Show in the bottom/top row |
Click this radio button to specify that milestones should be placed in the main row of tasks (the bottom row if overlapping tasks are drawn above the main row, or the top row if they are drawn below the main row) on bars that allow overlapping tasks, where coincident milestones and tasks will overlap each other.
Specifying where to display milestones in bars with overlapping tasks |
| Show in their own row |
Click this radio button to specify that milestones should be placed in their own specific row, where coincident milestones will overlap each other, but tasks and milestones will always be separated.
Note that if you click this radio button, this setting applies also to bars on which tasks cannot overlap. Selecting this option is a useful way of ensuring that milestones are not partially obscured when they appear directly before other tasks on a bar, even if you do not want to allow tasks to overlap on a bar
Specifying where to display milestones in bars with overlapping tasks |
How do I...
... specify the vertical separation between tasks on bars that allow overlapping tasks?
Enter a percentage in the Separation % field. Entering a percentage above 100% results in the tasks appearing further apart; entering a percentage below 100% results in the tasks overlapping each other vertically.
... specify whether overlapping tasks are drawn above or below the main row of tasks?
Select the Show descending (top to bottom) check box to specify that overlapping tasks should be drawn below the main row of tasks on a bar, or clear the check box to specify that they should be drawn above the main row of tasks.
... specify where to display milestones in bars with overlapping tasks?
- Click the Place with tasks radio button to specify that milestones should be placed in the same way as other tasks on bars that allow overlapping tasks, with coincident milestones separated from each other and from other coincident tasks using the specified separation percentage.
- Click the Show in the top/bottom row radio button to specify that milestones should be placed in the main row of tasks (the bottom row if overlapping tasks are drawn above the main row, or the top row if they are drawn below the main row) on bars that allow overlapping tasks, where coincident milestones and tasks will overlap each other.
- Click the Show in their own row radio button to specify that milestones should be placed in their own specific row, where coincident milestones will overlap each other, but tasks and milestones will always be separated.