Select Object dialog

You use the Select Object dialog to select a specific project object to include in a formula - either an object about which you want a field to display information, or an object that you want to use as a function parameter, depending on the way in which you have accessed the dialog.

To access the Select Object dialog, click Object or click Field and select a field from the drop-down list on the Formula Properties dialog.

Use the Object field on the left of the dialog to select the type of object to which you want the formula to refer. The fields on the right side of the dialog change depending on the type of object you select. Use the fields on the right of the dialog to specify the precise object that you want to select.

Object type Description
Default object

Select this to make a field refer to whichever object a spreadsheet cell refers to by default, for example, a task on a task row, or an allocation on an allocation rows.

 

Note that this object type only appears when you use this dialog to select an object about which you want a field to display information: it does not appear when you click Object on the Formula Properties dialog.
Calendar Select this to specify a calendar as a function parameter.
Progress period Select this to specify a progress period as a function parameter.
Allocation Select this to specify either the default allocation, an allocation in a particular position on a bar, or a specific allocation.
Task Select this to specify either the default task, a task in a particular position on a bar, or a specific task.
Bar Select this to specify either the default bar, or a specific bar.
Summary Select this to specify either the default summary task, or a specific summary task.
Chart Select this to specify either the default expanded task, or a specific expanded task.
Project Select this to specify either the default parent project, or a specific project.
Programme Select this to specify the Programme chart.
Field Description
Project or baseline Specify whether you want to refer to data from the live project or from a specific baseline.
Field parameters Use these fields to specify any additional parameters for the selected field, such as a date range, or whether you want the field to refer to Scheduled, Demand or All allocation types. The field parameters that appear depend on the field that you selected on the Formula Properties dialog.
Field Description
Calendar hierarchy The hierarchical list of calendars in the project. Select the calendar to which the formula should refer.
Field Description
Progress period hierarchy The hierarchical list of progress periods in the project. Select the progress period to which the formula should refer.
Field Description
Use default Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to the allocation to which each spreadsheet cell refers by default.
Use by order Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to an allocation in a particular position on a bar, then specify that position in the field to the right of the radio button. For example, enter 3rd to specify the allocation on the third task on a bar.
Use fixed object Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to a specific allocation. You then specify the allocation using the fields below.
Find If you have clicked the Use fixed object radio button, enter a character string in this field to limit the allocation list to tasks that include the string in either their name, their unique task ID or their WBS code.
Name Select this check box to limit the allocation list to allocations assigned to tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their name.
Unique task ID Select this check box to limit the allocation list to allocations assigned to tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their unique task ID.
WBS Select this check box to limit the allocation list to allocations assigned to tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their WBS code.
Populate list Click this button to display the allocations that match the fixed object criteria you have entered in the allocation list.
Allocation list A list of the allocations that match the fixed object criteria you have entered. Select the allocation to which the formula should refer.
Project or baseline Specify whether you want to refer to data from the live project or from a specific baseline.
Field parameters Use these fields to specify any additional parameters for the selected field, such as a date range, or whether you want the field to refer to Scheduled, Demand or All allocation types. The field parameters that appear depend on the field that you selected on the Formula Properties dialog.
Field Description
Use default Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to the task to which each spreadsheet cell refers by default.
Use by order Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to a task in a particular position on a bar, then specify that position in the field to the right of the radio button. For example, enter 3rd to specify the third task on a bar.
Use fixed object Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to a specific task. You then specify the task using the fields below.
Find If you have clicked the Use fixed object radio button, enter a character string in this field to limit the task list to tasks that include the string in either their name, their unique task ID or their WBS code.
Name Select this check box to limit the task list to tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their name.
Unique task ID Select this check box to limit the task list to tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their unique task ID.
WBS Select this check box to limit the task list to tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their WBS code.
Populate list Click this button to display the tasks that match the fixed object criteria you have entered in the task list.
Task list A list of the tasks that match the fixed object criteria you have entered. Select the task to which the formula should refer.
Project or baseline Specify whether you want to refer to data from the live project or from a specific baseline.
Field parameters Use these fields to specify any additional parameters for the selected field, such as a date range, or whether you want the field to refer to Scheduled, Demand or All allocation types. The field parameters that appear depend on the field that you selected on the Formula Properties dialog.
Field Description
Use default Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to the bar to which each spreadsheet cell refers by default.
Use fixed object Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to a specific bar. You then specify the bar using the fields below.
Find If you have clicked the Use fixed object radio button, enter a character string in this field to limit the bar list to bars that include the string in their name.
Name Select this check box to limit the bar list to bars that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their name.
Populate list Click this button to display the bars that match the fixed object criteria you have entered in the bar list.
Bar list A list of the bars that match the fixed object criteria you have entered. Select the bar to which the formula should refer.
Project or baseline Specify whether you want to refer to data from the live project or from a specific baseline.
Field parameters Use these fields to specify any additional parameters for the selected field, such as a date range, or whether you want the field to refer to Scheduled, Demand or All allocation types. The field parameters that appear depend on the field that you selected on the Formula Properties dialog.
Field Description
Use default Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to the summary task to which each spreadsheet cell refers by default.
Use fixed object Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to a specific summary task. You then specify the summary task using the fields below.
Find If you have clicked the Use fixed object radio button, enter a character string in this field to limit the summary task list to summary tasks that include the string in either their name, their unique task ID or their WBS code.
Name Select this check box to limit the summary task list to summary tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their name.
Unique task ID Select this check box to limit the summary task list to summary tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their unique task ID.
WBS Select this check box to limit the summary task list to summary tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their WBS code.
Populate list Click this button to display the summary tasks that match the fixed object criteria you have entered in the summary task list.
Summary task list A list of the summary tasks that match the fixed object criteria you have entered. Select the summary task to which the formula should refer.
Project or baseline Specify whether you want to refer to data from the live project or from a specific baseline.
Field parameters Use these fields to specify any additional parameters for the selected field, such as a date range, or whether you want the field to refer to Scheduled, Demand or All allocation types. The field parameters that appear depend on the field that you selected on the Formula Properties dialog.
Field Description
Use default Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to the expanded task to which each spreadsheet cell refers by default.
Use fixed object Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to a specific expanded task. You then specify the expanded task using the fields below.
Find If you have clicked the Use fixed object radio button, enter a character string in this field to limit the expanded task list to expanded tasks that include the string in either their name, their unique task ID or their WBS code.
Name Select this check box to limit the expanded task list to expanded tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their name.
Unique task ID Select this check box to limit the expanded task list to expanded tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their unique task ID.
WBS Select this check box to limit the expanded task list to expanded tasks that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their WBS code.
Populate list Click this button to display the expanded tasks that match the fixed object criteria you have entered in the expanded task list.
Expanded task list A list of the expanded tasks that match the fixed object criteria you have entered. Select the expanded task to which the formula should refer.
Project or baseline Specify whether you want to refer to data from the live project or from a specific baseline.
Field parameters Use these fields to specify any additional parameters for the selected field, such as a date range, or whether you want the field to refer to Scheduled, Demand or All allocation types. The field parameters that appear depend on the field that you selected on the Formula Properties dialog.
Field Description
Use default Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to the project to which each spreadsheet cell refers by default.
Use fixed object Click this radio button to specify that the formula should refer to a specific project. You then specify the project using the fields below.
Find If you have clicked the Use fixed object radio button, enter a character string in this field to limit the project list to projects that include the string in either their name, their unique task ID or their WBS code.
Name Select this check box to limit the project list to projects that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their name.
Unique task ID Select this check box to limit the project list to projects that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their unique task ID.
WBS Select this check box to limit the project list to projects that include the string you have entered in the Find field in their WBS code.
Populate list Click this button to display the projects that match the fixed object criteria you have entered in the project list.
Project list A list of the projects that match the fixed object criteria you have entered. Select the project to which the formula should refer.
Project or baseline Specify whether you want to refer to data from the live project or from a specific baseline.
Field parameters Use these fields to specify any additional parameters for the selected field, such as a date range, or whether you want the field to refer to Scheduled, Demand or All allocation types. The field parameters that appear depend on the field that you selected on the Formula Properties dialog.
Field Description
Project or baseline Specify whether you want to refer to data from the live project or from a specific baseline.
Field parameters Use these fields to specify any additional parameters for the selected field, such as a date range, or whether you want the field to refer to Scheduled, Demand or All allocation types. The field parameters that appear depend on the field that you selected on the Formula Properties dialog.

How do I...

  1. Use the Object field on the left of the dialog to select the type of object to which you want the formula to refer. The fields on the right side of the dialog change depending on the type of object you select.
  2. Use the fields on the right side of the dialog to specify the precise object to which you want the formula to refer.
  3. If you want the selected object to be taken from a baseline rather than from the live data, specify a baseline in the Project or baseline field.
  4. Click OK to return to the Formula Properties dialog.
  1. Use the Object field on the left of the dialog to select the type of object to which you want the field to refer. Select Default object to make the field refer to whichever object a spreadsheet cell refers to by default, for example, a task on a task row, or an allocation on an allocation rows. The fields on the right side of the dialog change depending on the type of object you select.
  2. Use the fields on the right side of the dialog to specify the precise object to which you want the formula to refer.
  3. If you want the selected object to be taken from a baseline rather than from the live data, specify a baseline in the Project or baseline field.
  4. Use the Field parameters fields to specify any additional parameters for the selected field, such as a date range.
  5. Click OK to return to the Formula Properties dialog.

Related Topics:

Working with dialogs

Creating formulae

The components of a formula

Example formulae