Ruling Lines Properties dialog - Conditional tab
You use the Conditional tab of the
Ruling Lines Properties dialog to set up conditional ruling lines, which appear at regular intervals or on particular types of bar. Ruling lines, which improve readability and chart presentation, are displayed below every bar in the bar chart and spreadsheet by default. You can change the ruling lines to suit your requirements. For example, you can set a ruling line to appear below every subheading, above every summary bar
How to access the Ruling Lines Properties dialog
To access the Ruling Lines Properties dialog, on the Format tab, in the Format group, click Ruling Lines.
Explanation of the fields and buttons on the dialog
The dialog displays the following information about each conditional ruling line:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Enter a descriptive name to apply to the conditional ruling line. |
| Visibility | Specify whether the ruling line is enabled or disabled; you can also choose to display it in the bar chart only, or in the spreadsheet only. |
| Style | Specify the style with which to display the ruling line. |
| Position | Specify the position in which to display the ruling line relative to the bar to which it relates - above the bar, below the bar, or above and below the bar. |
| Alignment | Specify whether the ruling line should be displayed inside its bar or on the edge of its bar. |
| Repeat | Select this check box to repeat the ruling line at a specified interval, or clear the check box to display the line on selected types of bar. You specify the types of bar on which to display ruling lines using the check boxes to the right of this column. |
| Interval | If you have chosen to display the ruling line at a specified interval, enter the interval at which to display it. For example, enter 3 to display the line on every third bar. |
| Subhead | Select this check box to display the ruling line on bars that represent subheadings - ie those that contain no tasks. |
| Blank | Select this check box to display the ruling line on empty bars. |
| Summary | Select this check box to display the ruling line on bars that contain summary tasks. |
| Change RBS | Select this check box to display the ruling line on bars in RBS views on which the RBS level changes. |
| Change CBS | Select this check box to display the ruling line on bars in CBS views on which the CBS level changes. |
The dialog displays the following buttons:
| Button | Description |
|---|---|
| Add | Click this button to add a conditional ruling line to the bar chart. |
| Remove | Click this button to delete the currently selected conditional ruling line. |
| Up | Click this button to move the selected conditional ruling line up one position in the drawing order. The first ruling line in the list is drawn first and may be obscured by ruling lines lower down the list that are drawn later. |
| Down | Click this button to move the selected conditional ruling line down one position in the drawing order. |
How do I...
... add a conditional ruling line to the bar chart?
- Click Add, or click the first blank line in the list of ruling lines. A ruling line is added to the first blank line.
- Click the Name column and enter a description of the ruling line.
- Click the Visibility column and specify whether the ruling line is enabled or disabled; you can also choose to display it in the bar chart only, or in the spreadsheet only.
- Select the line style in the Style column.
- Specify the position in which to display the ruling line relative to its bar in the Position column.
- Specify whether the ruling line is displayed inside its bar or on edge of its bar in the Alignment column.
- Select the Repeat check box to repeat the ruling line at a specified interval, or clear the check box to display the line on selected types of bar.
- Enter the interval at which to display the ruling line in the Interval column. For example, enter 3 to display the line on every third bar.
- If you clear the Repeat check box, the ruling line is displayed on the types of bar that you select using the check boxes in the remaining columns. You can choose from subheading bars, blank bars, summary bars
... remove a conditional ruling line from the bar chart?
- Select the conditional ruling line you want to remove.
- Click Remove.
... configure the order in which conditional ruling lines are drawn in the bar chart?
- Select the conditional ruling line you want to configure.
- Click Up to move the ruling line towards the top of the list, or click Down to move it towards the bottom. Ruling lines at the top of the list are drawn first, so may be obscured by ones drawn subsequently on top of them.