Manual Editing of Task Links for OnePager Pro for Version 7.0

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Contents

Overview

This article covers the Manual editing of Task Links and provides discussions of manual editing of manual and Data-driven Task Links in the chart. In the discussion that follows on manual editing using the Chart Editor , it is assumed that Data-driven Tasks are imported.

For more information on the rules governing the importing Data-driven Task Links, please see the article at: Data-Driven Task Link Import Rules for OnePager Pro

Manual Task Links are provided in chart illustrations in this article where necessary to call attention to how editing techniques differ between Data-driven Task Links and manual Task Links. The Task Link editing features provided in OnePager Pro are quite comprehensive so this article contains all the topics on Manual editing of Task Links in this one place.

There are references placed throughout the article to other related subjects and a list of related articles is provided end of this article.

The organization of this article follows the process of Task Link editing from the selection of the Task Links through the various methods available to edit Task Link properties in the Chart Editor.

Please use the hyperlinks in the Contents box at the top of this article to go directly to specific topics.

Selecting Task Links for Editing in the Chart Editor

Using the Mouse Left-Click to Select Task Links for Editing

As with all graphics managed by the Chart Editor, Task Links (manual and Data-driven) can be selected with a left-click where the mouse is placed on the desired Task Link.

Data-Driven Task Links

When you perform the left-click, the Task Link is highlighted at its Begin and End points and, depending upon the Task Link’s shape, at various points along the connection line between the predecessor and successor task bar as shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(1)-10022020.png

Looking at the illustration above, the selected Data-driven Task Link is highlighted with green grab points at its Begin and End points and yellow grab points on its connection line segments. Using your mouse to click on one of these grab points and employing a left-click you can manually use drag and drop methods to adjust the positions of the grab point. If you click on a yellow grab point on a selected manual or Data-driven Task Link, you can move it left or right or up or down depending on its position.

For Data-driven Task Links, grabbing a green grab point on a Begin or End point only allows you to move the grab point to the top, middle, or bottom of the task bar’s edge. This is because Data-driven Task Links have their positions on predecessor or successor tasks determined by data imported from your source plan.

Manual Task Links

For manual Task Links, grabbing a green grab point on a Begin or End point is not constrained to the edge of the task bar. You have the option to move the green grab point to eight (8) initial positions on the task bar as shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(2)-10022020.png

Using the drag and drop method for re-positioning a manual Task Link’s Begin or End point is limited with the Chart Editor. However, you can more precisely re-position a manual Task Link’s Begin or End points along the duration of a task bar by using the Task Link Properties form.

For more information on Editing manual task link properties, please see this section in the article at: Manual Editing of Task Link Properties in the Chart Editor

Using the Mouse Right-Click to Select Task Links for Editing

Right-clicking on any Task Link selects the Task Link and accesses the task link right-click context menu for the type of Task Link selected. The task link right-click context menus for manual and Data-driven Task Links differ slightly as explained below.

Data-Driven Task Links

You can use a mouse right-click on a Data-driven Task Link to access its context menu as shown here:

P70-19 4 1-70-(3)-10022020.png

Data-driven Task Links can be hidden in the current snapshot or all snapshots. Data-driven Task Links cannot be deleted as they are created from Microsoft Project source plan data.

The Order command functions the same for Task Links as for other objects in the chart.

Clicking the Properties … command accesses the Task Links Properties form as shown below so that you can edit the properties of individual or multiple selected Task Links:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(25)-09292020.png

For more information on Editing manual task link properties, please see this section in the article at: Manual Editing of Task Link Properties in the Chart Editor

When a Data-driven Task Link’s formatting is edited it becomes a mavericked Data-driven Task Link.

Manual Task Links

As with previous versions of OnePager, manual Task Links can also be selected with a right-click to access their task link right-click context menu as shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(5)-10022020.png

Manual Task Links can be deleted as there is no correspondence between manual Task Links and Predecessor data from the source plan. Manual Task Links can be hidden by accessing its Where Are My Links? form entry and checking their Show checkbox OFF.

For more information on the Where Are My Links? form, please see the article at: Using the Where Are My Links? Form for OnePager Pro

When a manual Task Link’s formatting is edited it becomes a maverick manual Task Link.

Selecting Multiple Task Links

You can use your mouse to select multiple Task Links for editing using the same procedures as used to select multiple task bar/milestone symbol, Rows, Swimlanes, and Time Axis Level Cells by combining the pointing of your mouse to the Task Link in combination with the CTL+Left-Click. The SHIFT+Left-Click operation is not active for selecting Task Links. The CTL+Left-Click technique is recommended if you want to edit the Task Link properties of multiple (but not all) Task Links such as their connection line color, arrow head shape, or connection line dash type, for example.

Caution: Since Task Link connection lines are generally not configured or routed the same, it is not possible to select multiple Task Links and use the drag and drop method on the connection lines to reroute them manually.

Example

As an example, suppose you have the BlueGrass Project Plan Report – Pro chart with all Data-driven Task Links showing as illustrated above. Using your mouse with the CTL+Left-Click selects several Data-driven Task Links. When the first Task Link is selected, it is highlighted with green grab points at the Begin and End point shapes and yellow grab points along the connection line if the routing has multiple corners. When you select the second, third, and so on Task Link using this method, the selected Task Links are highlighted with only green grab points as shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(6)-10022020.png

To begin the edit process on the selected Task Links, right-click on any of the selected Task Links to access the task link right-click context menu and click on the desired command as shown here:

P70-19 4 1-70-(7)-10022020.png

If you select the Properties … command, the Task Link Properties form appears as shown here:

P70-19 4 1-70-(8)-10022020.png

To complete the example, you can edit the Color: dropdown in the Line Style sub-control group to red and click OK on the form and get the result shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(9)-10022020.png

After completing the edit operation above, the selected Task Links remain selected in case you want to make more edits. Clicking anywhere in open space deactivates the selections. Using this technique, you can select multiple Data-driven Task Links as well as manual Task Links in one multiple selection operation and perform edits on all selected Task Links. Making any formatting edits to Task Links either singly or in a multiple selection operation makes the edited Task Links mavericks.

You can restore multiple selected Task Links back to their default formatting by accessing the Task Links Properties form shown above and clicking the Use Format Defaults button followed by clicking the OK button as shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(10)-10022020.png

The Selecting all Task Links Feature

There is a feature available so you can select all Task Links shown in the chart that uses the OnePager Pro Home ribbon tool bar tab. To select all Task Links (Data-driven and manual) in one operation go to the OnePager Pro Home ribbon tool bar tab in the Editing control group and click the Select all dropdown and then click the Task Links option as shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(11)-10022020.png

This action highlights (selects) all visible Task Links. If you right-click on any selected Task Link to access the task link right-click context menu (depending on the Task Link type you right-clicked), you can access the Task Link Properties form and edit all the selected Task Link formats in one operation or used the commands in the task link right-click context menu.

Manual Editing of Task Link Properties in the Chart Editor

Editing Task Links In General

Manual and Data-driven Task Links can be manually edited. Manual and Data-driven Task Links manual editing results in the edited Task Link becoming a maverick. Manual editing of Task Links can be done by accessing the Task Link Properties form which contains the controls found in the Chart Properties form Task Links tab’s Default Task-Links Formatting control group.

The Task Link Properties form is accessed by right-clicking on the Task Link to access the task link right-click context menu as shown here:

P70-19 4 1-70-(12)-10022020.png

The Task Link Properties form looks like this:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(25)-09292020.png

After making your edits to the selected Task Link(s), click the OK button to apply them to the selected Task Link(s). This action applies all the edits you made to the selected Task Link(s) at one time. You can return to the Task Link Properties form as many times as necessary for further editing to selected Task Link(s).

To restore a manual or Data-driven Task Link back to its default format setting you need to select the maverick Task Link(s) as shown above and then access the Task Link Properties form again.

When the Task Link Properties form appears, click the Use Default Format button followed by clicking the OK button on the form as shown below to restore the Task Link to default settings:

P70-19 4 1-70-(10)-10022020.png

When manual and Data-driven Task Links are hidden manually, their show/hide status is updated and reflected in the Where Are My Links? form with the Show column in the form appropriately checked or unchecked.

Editing Data-Driven Task Links

If a Data-driven Task Link or Links are selected, the right-click action displays the task link right-click context menu below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(15)-10022020.png

This context menu differs from the task link right-click context menu for manual Task Links because Data-driven Task Links cannot be deleted as they are imported from predecessor information in the source plan. Accordingly, Data-driven Task Links can only be hidden in snapshots.

Hide Command

The Hide command in the task link right-click context menu has two options.

At this snapshot: This sub-command hides the Data-driven Task Link in the current snapshot and checks the Show checkbox OFF in the entry for the selected Data-driven Task Link in the Where Are My Links? form for this snapshot.

At all snapshots: This sub-command hides the Data-driven Task Link from all snapshots and checks the Show checkbox OFF for the selected Data-driven Task Link’s entry in the Where Are My Links? form for all snapshots.

Recall that showing (or hiding) of Task Links is “snapshot-dependent”, so the Where Are My Links? form is built for each snapshot that you view in the Chart Editor at the time.

To delete a Data-driven Task Link so that it never shows, it is recommended you update the appropriate Predecessor field in your source plan such that there is no predecessor information associated with the task/milestone.

Order Command

The Order and Put at all snapshots commands are unchanged from previous versions of OnePager with respect to Data-driven Task Links. The Order command allows you to place the Task Link within the display area relative to other graphics in the same Z-Level. This command operates similar to other Order operations in OnePager.

The Order command appears like this when you right-click a Task Link:

P70-19 4 1-70-(16)-10022020.png

The Put in all snapshots command assures that in a multi-snapshot chart the selected Task Link is included in snapshots where the two participating task bars/milestone symbols appear. To have Task Links appear in only some snapshots, they must first be established in all snapshots and manually hidden in those snapshots where the Task Links are not desired. You have the option, as noted in the hide Task Links discussion above, to hide Data-driven Task Links in individual snapshots. To do this requires going to the desired snapshot and specifically using the Hide command with the At this snapshot sub-command to achieve the desired result as shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(15)-10022020.png

Properties ... Command

When the Properties … command is clicked in the task link right-click context menu above, the Task Links Properties form is accessed as shown here:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(25)-09292020.png

For Data-driven Task Links, the Line Style, Arrow Style, and Link Comments control sub-control groups are enabled. However, because Data-driven Task Links have their Task Link Dependency Type defined in the source plan, the Horizontal Anchor controls are disabled. Therefore, you cannot change the Horizontal Anchor points, Dependency Type, or the Slider bars for Predecessor or Successor. You can, however, change the eight (8) Vertical Anchor point radio buttons.

Note that the Horizontal Anchor controls are only available if manual Task Links are selected for editing. The control groups in this form are almost identical to the Default Task-Link Formatting control group in the Template Properties and Chart Properties form’s Task Link Tab. Making an edit to any setting in the above form such that the edit deviates from the default settings established in the Chart Properties form changes the selected Task Link(s) to mavericks.

The settings for a maverick Task Link can be restored to the default format settings by clicking the Use Format Defaults button shown above. This action restores the maverick Task Link to the settings in the current Chart Properties form’s Task Link tab shown in the Default Task-Link Formatting control group of the form. Since making a Task Link into a maverick is considered formatting, edits to a Task Link in one snapshot mavericks that Task Link in all snapshots.

Use Format Defaults Button

When clicking the Use Format Defaults button to restore default format properties to a Task Link in one snapshot, the action restores default properties to that Task Link in all snapshots that it appears. Recall that default Task Link settings can include the Task Link Filter rules established in the Template Properties form or by using the Chart Properties form’s Task Link tab’s Manage Rules … button and the Task Link Filter Rules form. Clicking the Use Format Defaults button resets defaults for selected Task Links either Data-driven or manual.

Editing Manual Task Links

Individually editing manual Task Link is initiated by right-clicking on the manual Task Link. This action selects the manual Task Link and accesses the task link right-click context menu shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(8)-09292020.png

Manual Task Link Delete Command

Deleting a manual Task Link includes two options: (1) At this snapshot and (2) At all snapshots.

At this snapshot: Deleting a manual Task Link At this snapshot removes its presence from the current snapshot.

1) The action also checks OFF the entry for this manual Task Link in the Where Are My Links? form for this snapshot but the entry remains in the form.
2) At this point you can UNDO the action whereupon the selected manual Task Link is shown and the entry for the deleted at this snapshot manual Task Link is rechecked in the Where Are My Links? form.
3) Rechecking the entry back to ON yourself also restores the subject manual Task Link at the current snapshot.

At all snapshots: Deleting a manual Task Link At all snapshots removes the Task Links presence from all snapshots and deletes the manual Task Link’s entry in the Where Are My Links? form for all snapshots.

1) Since the entry in the Where Are My Links? form is gone; the deleted manual Task Link cannot be restored through the form.
2) However, an immediate UNDO restores the manual Task Link deleted At all snapshots to visibility in all snapshots of the chart and restores the entry in the Where Are My Links? form.

The Order, Add another …, and Put at all snapshots commands are unchanged from previous versions of OnePager with respect to manual Task Links.

Manual Task Link Order Command

The Order command allows you to place the Task Link within the display area relative to other graphics in the same Z-Level. This command operates similar to other Order operations in OnePager. The Order command appears like this when you right-click a link:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(9)-09292020.png

Add Another ... Command

The Add another … command, when clicked, immediately adds another Task Link to the selected pair of task or milestone shapes with the same properties as the original manual Task Link selected. Typically, the added manual Task Link is superimposed on the original so it may be difficult to see. It is recommended that you select one of the manual Task Links and drag and drop it to a new connection line location to enhance its visibility. This allows you to “add another” manual Task Link between the two selected task bars/milestone symbols with different properties.

The example below shows a second manual Task Link added that is positioned further to the right of the first selected manual Task Link:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(10)-09292020.png

Manual Task Links Put In All Snapshots Command

The Put in all snapshots command assures that in multi-snapshot charts that the selected Task Link is included in snapshots where the two participating task bars/milestone symbols appear. To have manual Task Links appear in only some snapshots, they must first be established in all snapshots and manually deleted in those snapshots where the Task Links are not desired. You have the option, as noted in the delete manual Task Links discussion above, to delete manual Task Links in individual snapshots.

To do this requires going to the desired snapshot and specifically using the Delete command with the At this snapshot sub-command to achieve the desired result as shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(22)-10022020.png

Manual Task Links Properties ... Command

Clicking the Properties … command for a manual Task Link accesses the Task Link Properties form as shown here:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(25)-09292020.png

When a manual Task Link(s) are selected and the Properties… command is selected from the task link right-click context menu, all controls in the Task Link Properties form are enabled. You have the capability to modify all properties of the manual Task Links selected including the Horizontal Anchor points and Dependency Type:.

For manual Task Links, all the controls in the Horizontal Anchor control group are enabled when the Dependency Type: window is set to Custom. If you specify a specific Dependency Type for a selected manual Task Link (other than Custom), the slider bars for the Predecessor and Successor are disabled as shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(32)-09292020.png

For manual Task Links, the Line Style, Arrow Style, Link Comments, and Vertical Anchor control groups are enabled. The control groups in this form are almost identical to the Default Task-Link Formatting control group in the Template Properties and Chart Properties form’s Task Link Tab.

Making an edit in the above form such that the edit deviates from the default settings established in the Chart Properties form changes the selected Task Link(s) to a maverick. The settings for a maverick Task Link can be restored to the default settings by clicking the Use Format Defaults button shown above. This action restores the maverick Task Link to the settings in the current Chart Properties form’s Task Link tab shown in the Default Task-Link Formatting control group of the form. Since making a Task Link a maverick is considered formatting, edits to a Task Link in one snapshot mavericks that Task Link in all snapshots. When clicking the Use Format Defaults button to restore default format properties to a Task Link in one snapshot, the action restores default format properties to that Task Link in all snapshots that it appears.

Manual Task Links Use Format Defaults Button

Recall that default Task Link settings can include Task Link Filter rules established in the Template Properties form or by using the Chart Properties form’s Task Link tab’s Manage Rules … button and the Task Link Filter Rules form. Clicking the Use Format Defaults button resets defaults for selected Task Links either Data-driven or manual.

Enhanced Manual and Data-Driven Task Link Formatting Capabilities

Using the Task Link Properties Form to Edit Task Link Format Properties

As mentioned above, OnePager now has an expanded formatting repertoire for Task Links to give you more options. The Task Link Properties form is very useful for editing the format properties of Data-driven and manual Task Links.

Task Link Line Styles

Previously, you only had the solid connection line type. In OnePager all five connection line type options that are currently supported for connection lines to baselines, deadlines, endpoints to task bars/milestone symbols are included.

These five connection line options are shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(33)-09292020.png

Task Link Arrow Styles

In OnePager there are enhanced Arrow Styles as shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(34)-09292020.png

There are five (5) Begin Type arrow styles and five (5) End Type arrow styles to select from. The default setting is the None selection for the Begin Type and the Arrow selection for the End Type. OnePager recognizes which end of the connection line is the Begin and End based upon the Dependency Type.

Caution: You can override OnePager’s determination of Begin and End Types by making your own selections in the dropdown windows shown in the above form.

Caution: This is not recommended for selected Data-driven Task Links because the end result of the edit is to potentially alter the look of the Dependency relationship between task bars/milestone symbols and thereby appears to violate the integrity of your source plan data.

Task Link Corner Radius

You also have options when specifying the Corner radius of a Task Link connection line regardless of the line option selected. The Corner radius is a parameter denoting the number of pixels that are used to make the connection line’s 90 degree bends. The higher the pixel count the more rounded the connection line bend appears.

Below is an example of a Corner Radius of 1:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(35)-09292020.png

For comparison, below is an illustration with a manual Task Link with a Corner Radius of 10:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(36)-09292020.png

Task Link Dependency Types

For manual Task Links, you have the option of selecting the Dependency type from one of the following:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(37)-09292020.png

Selecting the dropdown’s Custom option enables the slider bars to be used to position the Horizontal Anchor points for the predecessor and successor. Selecting any of the other Dependency Type: options disable the slider bars because the selection in the Dependency Type: dropdown determines the Horizontal Anchor points. There is an additional Task Link Dependency type for manual Task Links called the Custom Dependency type. This is the default setting when you place a manual Task Link into the chart and shows in the Dependency Type: window of the Chart Properties form’s Task Link tab and Task Link Properties form.

The initial Custom Dependency Type for manual Task Links is Finish-to-Start (FS). You can edit the default setting for manual Task Links to any other Dependency Type (i.e., FF, FS, SF, or SS) which sets the manual Task Links horizontal Begin point and End point shape’s positions. If you reset the Dependency Type for a manual Task Link using the Dependency Type: dropdown window in the forms, the slider bars for Predecessor or Successor are disabled. Leaving the Dependency Type: window set to Custom enables the slider bars for Predecessor and Successor and allows you to use them to position Begin point and End point shapes for the manual Task Link.

When a manual Task Link is selected with a right-click and the Properties … command is selected the Task Link Properties form is brought up as shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(25)-09292020.png

Task Link Vertical Anchors

Finally, for both manual and Data-driven Task Links, you have control over where the Task Link Vertical Anchors connect to the task bar/milestone symbol. There are four (4) Vertical Anchor point options each for the Predecessor and Successor tasks.

Top

The Task Link connection line anchors at the Top of the task bar/milestone symbol and departs vertically or horizontally from the Top.

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(39)-09292020.png
Middle

The Task Link connection line anchors at the vertical center of the task bar/milestone symbol and departs horizontally or vertically from the middle.

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(40)-09292020.png
Bottom

The Task Link connection line anchors at the bottom of the task bar or departs vertically or horizontally from the bottom.

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(41)-09292020.png
Auto

The Auto option is the default option employed by OnePager so that it can initially make decisions on how best to vertically position the Begin point and End point shapes of the Task Link connection line routing through the chart.

The Task Link’s Dependency Type is preserved.

Selecting Multiple Task Links to Edit with the Task Link Properties Form

OnePager permits you to select multiple Data-driven and manual Task Links using the CTL+Left-Click method. The SHIFT+Left-Click operation is not active for selecting Task Links. Because there are two different types of Task Links that can be shown, it is recommended that when making multiple Task Link selections that the set selected consist of only one type. When you want to access the task link’s right-click context menu and you select Task Links of different types, OnePager provides the task link right-click context menu for the Task Link type which you used the right-click.

If you selected as manual Task Link first, and with the CTL+Left-Click you selected a Data-driven Task Link second, followed by a right-click on the Data-driven Task Link, OnePager provides the Data-driven Task Link’s right-click context menu. If you reverse the selection above and right-click on the manual Task Link second, OnePager provides the manual task link’s right-click context menu. The difference between the two types of task link right-click context menus is that the Data-driven task link right-click context menu has the Hide command while the manual task link right-click context menu has the Delete command.

The remaining commands in the two types of task link right-click context menus are almost identical with the exception that the manual task link’s right-click context menu has the Add another … command and the Data-driven task link’s right-click context menu does not.

When you do make multiple Task Link selections of different types of Task Links and use the task link right-click context menu to access the Task Links Properties form by clicking the Properties … command in the task link right-click context menu, the Task Links Properties form looks like this:

P70-19 4 1-70-(23)-10022020.png

In the Task Link Properties form above accessed by multiple selection of different types of Task Links all control groups are enabled except the Horizontal Anchor (Manual Links Only) control group which is disabled. For all the selected Task Links regardless of type (manual or Data-driven) you can edit the Line Style, Arrow Style, Link Comments, and Vertical Anchor (All Links) settings.

Cautions

You can override OnePager’s determination of Begin and End Types by making your own selections in the above form. This is not recommended for selected Data-driven Task Links because the end result of the edit is to create the “illusion” of a different dependency type.

When you make multiple Task Link selections of the same type of Task Links and use the task link right-click context menu to access the Task Links Properties form by clicking the Properties … command, the Task Links Properties form looks the same as the illustration above except that OnePager is able to identify the connection line color and show it in the form. When multiple Data-driven Task Links are selected, the Task Link Properties form is accessed with the Horizontal Anchor (Manual Links Only) control group disabled. All other control groups are enabled in this situation. When multiple manual Task Links are selected, the Task Link Properties form is accessed with all control groups enabled.

Re-positioning Task Link Connection Lines Using Drag and Drop Methods

You can use drag and drop methods for editing the connection line routing of Task Links and the position of Begin and End point shapes on their respective task bars/milestone symbols. This capability was not provided in previous versions of OnePager but it is in OnePager as described here. When one or more Task Links are selected, the Task Link Begin and End point shapes are represented with green grab points on predecessor and successor task bars as shown in the illustration in the next paragraph.

Task Link connection lines have yellow grab points on the connection line segments in the middle if the Task Link is displayed as a multi-segment connection line as shown in the examples below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(47)-09292020.png

Clicking on any of these grab points allows you to use your mouse to move the Begin or End point shapes or the connection line segments in the Chart Editor. Although you can select multiple Task Links and the green and yellow grab points are provided, OnePager only allows you to use the drag and drop method of re-positioning the connection line or the Begin or End point shape on one Task Link at a time. When using the drag and drop method, the other selected Task Links remain selected.

For Begin and End point shapes, the green grab points do not come off of the task bar/milestone symbol. The selection grab points behave as follows when using your mouse to adjust their positions.

Beginning and Ending Green Grab Points

These green grab points can be moved up and down between three positions on the task bars/milestone symbols to fine tune their position vertically as shown in the sequence below:

Initial Configuration of Task Link Finish-to-Start
P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(48)-09292020.png
Task Link End Point Shape Selected Showing Snap-To-Grab Points
P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(49)-09292020.png

When a Task Link is selected as shown in the first illustration above, OnePager indicates where the Begin and End point shapes positions are with green grab points. If you select the End point shape of the Task Link as shown in the second illustration above, OnePager provides unfilled green grab points to indicate valid snap-to-positions for the End point shape. If you position the Task Link’s End point shape in between the snap-to-positions and release the mouse button the Task Link’s End point shape moves to the nearest snap-to-position.

Data-driven Task Links cannot be moved horizontally on either participating task bar/milestone symbol pair as OnePager maintains the integrity of the Task Link Dependency Type unless you specifically used the Task Link Properties form’s controls to maverick the Task Link.

For manual Task Links, you are able to drag the Begin and End point shape’s green grab points horizontally to adjust the horizontal anchor position as shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(50)-09292020.png

Middle Yellow Grab Points

When there is a multi-segment connection line representing a Task Link, the yellow grab point(s) in the middle of the multi-segment connection line are displayed when the Task Link is selected as shown here:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(51)-09292020.png

Grabbing a middle yellow grab point with the mouse allows you to move the yellow grab point in either a horizontal or vertical direction within the graph. Attempting to move yellow grab point too far in the graph area can produce unexpected results. You can manipulate the middle yellow grab point for either a Data-driven or manual Task Link without causing the Task Link to become a maverick.

Re-positioning Task Link Connection Lines on Various Task Bars

OnePager has a variety of task bars available, so we have a few tips for re-positioning Task Link Begin/End points when working with a task bar with rounded or pointed ends. The two task bars shown below are rectangular with a Task Link Connection Line Begin point originating the Predecessor’s bottom vertical anchor to the Successor’s top vertical anchor:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(52)-09292020.png

Changing the Successor task bar to a shape with a point on both ends, as in the example below, shifts the Task Link Connection Line’s End point to appear to be at the Successor’s middle vertical anchor. In reality, the top anchor position have moved downward on the task bar do to its geometry.

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(53)-09292020.png

For a more clear view of how Task Links are attaching to your task bars, right-click on the Task Link and click the Properties … command. You can now see that the Vertical Anchor point for this Successor task bar is likely set to Auto as shown here:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(54)-09292020.png

Editing the Vertical Anchor settings for the Successor task bar to Top, Middle, or Bottom enables you to know for sure where the Task Link is attaching.

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(55)-09292020.png

It is recommended that consideration be given to task bar and connection line routing when considering using the drag and drop method to reposition Task Link Begin/End Vertical Anchor points.

Creating and Editing Daisy Chained Manual Task Links

Creating Daisy Chains

Creating a Daisy Chain of manual Task Links is a two-step process. First, using your mouse and the CTL+Left-Click, make a series of mouse selections of task bars/milestone symbols in the order desired from the first Predecessor to the last Successor task bar/milestone symbol as shown here:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(12)-09292020.png

The second step is to click the Task Link button on the OnePager Insert ribbon tool bar tab shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(1)-09292020.png

At the completion of this second step the chart looks like this after increasing the row height to better display the Daisy Chain of three manual Task Links:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(13)-09292020.png

Manual Task Links created with this procedure are by definition created as Finish-to-Start Dependency types and are routed by OnePager to minimize conflicts with other graphics.

Alternative Method for Creating Daisy Chains

Daisy Chained manual Task Links can also be created by selecting the task bars/milestone symbols as before but using the right-click on the task bar right-click context menu’s Insert task link(s) command to create the desired Daisy Chain as shown in the following example. Start with the chart shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(12)-09292020.png

The first step is to select the task bars/milestone symbols to connect by Daisy Chained manual Task Link as shown in the illustration below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(15)-09292020.png

When you click the Insert task link(s) command in the task bar right-click context menu shown above the Daisy Chained manual Task Link looks like this:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(13)-09292020.png

Using the Lasso and Select All Ribbon Tool Bar Tab Button to Create Daisy Chains

Lasso Selection

For creating simple Daisy Chains of manual Task Links it can be easier to use the Lasso technique with the mouse left-click, drag and drop to select all the task bars/milestone symbols you want to be included in the daisy chain of manual Task Links.

For example, below the mouse left-click sweep selected all visible task bars/milestone symbols by including them inside the Lasso as shown:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(17)-09292020.png

Releasing the mouse left-click in the lower right of the chart selects all the task bars/milestone symbols within the boundary of the Lasso as shown here:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(18)-09292020.png

To complete the process, right-click on any selected task bar/milestone symbol to access its context menu and click the Insert task link(s) command as shown below.

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(19)-09292020.png

Doing this causes OnePager to draw the daisy chain manual Task Links as shown below with the Task Links widened:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(20)-09292020.png

OnePager Ribbon Home Tool Bar Tab-Select All Task Bar/Milestone Symbols

As an alternative to using the Lasso to select all task bars/milestone symbols, you can use the OnePager Pro Home ribbon tool bar tab in the Editing group of controls to make the selection. To do this, click on the Select all dropdown control in the group and select the Tasks/Milestones command as shown here:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(21)-09292020.png

Once all the task bars/milestone symbols are selected, use the right-click on any task bar/milestone symbol to access the task bar right-click context menu and click the Insert task link(s) command to create the daisy chain. Using the Lasso or the Select all technique to create a daisy chain of manual Task Links lets OnePager know that you want the resulting daisy chain to progress from upper left to lower right. Not selecting all task bars/milestone symbols creates a daisy chain just involving those selected task bars/milestone symbols with manual Task Links applied in the order that your manual 'selection of the task bars/milestone symbols were made.

If you need to select some task bars/milestone symbols but not all by using the CTL+Left-Click technique for selection, OnePager Pro can create a daisy chain of manual Task Links in the order selected as shown below where not all visible task bars/milestone symbols are selected.

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(22)-09292020.png

With the chart and the task bar/milestone symbol selections shown above, using either the OnePager ribbon tool bar command or the task bar right-click context menu command to Insert task link(s) results in the chart shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(23)-09292020.png

Some care needs to be exercised when using a combination of the Lasso or Select all technique with individual task bar/milestone symbol selections or de-selections to identify those task bars/milestone symbols to participate in the creation of a daisy chain. If you do the combination of Lasso and then, holding the CTL+Left-Click, you individually select additional task bars/milestone symbols, OnePager may not be able to follow your sequence and interpret your intentions. The results may not turn out to meet your expectations. It is recommend that you not combine these techniques for selecting task bars/milestone symbols in a single action but separate the actions into individual steps with the Insert task link(s) command used between steps making sure that selected task bars/milestone symbols are de-selected between steps.

Editing Daisy Chains

Manual Task Links can be individually edited as described above for Data-driven Task Links . Although the task link right-click context menu for manual Task Links differs slightly from the task link right-click context menu for Data-driven Task Links, you can still use it to access the Task Links Properties form for any selected manual Task Link.

Manual Task Links even if created by the Daisy Chain method are always individually selected and their properties individually edited. Likewise, manual Task Links must have their default properties individually restored using the Task Link Properties form’s Use Format Default button.

Using the UNDO button above the OnePager ribbon tool bar immediately after a Daisy Chain of manual Task Links is created causes the entire Daisy Chain to be undone.

Other Topics

Task Links and Virtual Summary Tasks (VST)

As a review, a Virtual Summary Task (VST) is a summary task bar created by OnePager that does not exist in Microsoft Project. It represents the Start Date and End Date of two or more constituent task bars or milestone shapes. In this respect the VST is a OnePager Summary task. OnePager computes the Start and End Date boundaries of a VST as its constituent task bar/milestone symbol's dates change from snapshot to snapshot. It also constructs Baselines, Percent Complete Bars, and Critical Path Segments (OnePager Pro (OPP) only) for task bars/milestone symbols being summarized.

For more information on creating and using the VST feature, please see the article at: Creating and Managing Virtual Summary Tasks

Creating Virtual Summary Tasks from Tasks with Data-Driven Task Links

When you want to create a VST from task bars/milestone symbols that have either manual or Data-driven Task Links as a Predecessor or Successor, you can expect to have their manual or Data-driven Task Links hidden when the VST is created. Suppose you want to create a VST from the three top task bars shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(24)-10022020.png

In the above illustration, the three task bars of interest each have a Data-driven Task Link associated with them as shown in the adjacent Where Are My Links? form. Creating a Virtual Summary Task from the three top task bars using the procedure in the referenced article above produces the chart below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(25)-10022020.png

In the illustration above, the VST is created in the third row and the Where Are My Links? form indicates that two Data-driven Task Links are no longer shown due to their associated task bars being incorporated into the VST. If there are any manual Task Links associated with the task bars being combined into a VST, these too are not shown after the VST is created.

Looking at the Where’s My Stuff!? form shows the task bars that are hidden for the reasons indicated in the form below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(26)-10022020.png

For more information on the use of the Where’s My Stuff!? form, please see the article at: Managing Hidden Tasks and Milestones Using "Where's My Stuff?!"

You can unmake a VST using the Where’s My Stuff!? form above by checking the two Select column checkboxes and then clicking the Fix Selected button at the bottom of the form. A more conventional method to unmake a Virtual Summary Task is to select it with a right-click to access the task bar right-click context menu and click the Unmake virtual summary task command.

When this is done, the chart looks like this:

P70-19 4 1-70-(27)-10022020.png

If any manual Task Links are involved with the creation of the VST, when the VST is unmade, these manual Task Links are again shown.

Adding Manual Task Links to Virtual Summary Tasks

Once a Virtual Summary Task is made, it can be a Predecessor or Successor itself and be a part of a pair of manual Task Links. This also applies to a VST made from task bars that do have Data-driven Task Links after the VST is made. When a VST with manual Task Links is unmade, the manual Task Links are deleted and the Where Are My Links? form entry for the manual Task Link is removed from the form.

In Summary

A VST cannot be a Predecessor or Successor task bar for Data-driven Task Links because VSTs are not associated with Dependency information from the source plan. For task bars with Data-driven and/or manual Task Links being made into a VST, they lose their Task Links upon incorporation into the VST. This is indicated in the Where Are My Links? form by the constituent Task Links marked as not shown. The Where’s My Stuff!? form also provides a means to see the task bars/milestone symbols incorporated in the VSTs and the entries in this form can be used to unmake a VST if done properly. When the VST is unmade, the constituent task bars have their Data-driven and/or manual Task Links restored to being shown and the Where Are My Links? form entries are updated accordingly.

Task Links for Absorbed Tasks

A bit of review on Absorption. The idea is to absorb one task or milestone shape into another task or milestone shape, leaving behind only a Comment Box (or perhaps several Comment Boxes) to indicate the presence of the Absorbed task bars/milestone symbols.

For more information on how to perform the absorption function, please see the article at: Absorbing one task into another

In addition, to properly use the function, there are two (2) control options found in the Template Properties and Chart Properties forms at the Advanced tab in the Display options control group of controls called Allow absorption and Show absorbed dates checkboxes.

The Allow absorption checkbox must be checked ON for the absorb feature to operate.

The Show absorbed dates checkbox, when checked ON, assures that the Start and End Dates of the Absorbed task bars/milestone symbols are present in the Comment Box.

For more information on the Display Options controls, please see the article at: Advanced Tab for OnePager Pro

Absorbing Tasks with Task Links

Using the chart below, absorb the MERLIN Subcontractor Selection task bar into the ADONIS Subcontractor Selection task bar in the row below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(28)-10022020.png

The Advanced tab of the Chart Properties form above has the two absorption related checkboxes checked ON. Next, select the MERLIN Subcontractor Selection task bar and drag it down into the ADONIS Subcontractor Selection task bar and the result is shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(29)-10022020.png

When you click the OK button after making your selection in the Absorption Options form, the chart looks like this with the Where Are My Links? form included in the illustration below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(30)-10022020.png

The Data-driven Task Links associated with the task bar being absorbed are hidden as indicated in the Where Are My Links? form shown above. If the absorbing task bar originally had manual and/or Data-driven Task Links, these Task Links remain unchanged. If you look at the Where’s My Stuff!? form, you see that the MERLIN Subcontractor Selection task bar is hidden because it’s been absorbed as shown below:

P70-19 4 1-70-(31)-10022020.png

As with the unmake process for a VST using the Where’s My Stuff!? form, you can unabsorb task bars by checking the Select column’s checkbox ON for the desired entry and click the Fix Selected button. When this is done, any Comment Boxes are removed, the previously absorbed task bars are shown as selected in the task bar in which they were absorbed, and any hidden manual and/or Data-driven Task Links are shown. To complete the process, use the drag and drop method to move the unabsorbed task bar back to its previous row.

The more conventional way to unabsorb a task bar is to right-clicking the absorbing task bar (ADONIS Subcontractor Selection) to accesses the task bar right-click context menu where you can click the Unabsorb task bars command to restore the absorbed task bar to visibility. When this is done, any Comment Boxes are removed, the previously absorbed task bars are shown as selected in the task bar in which they were absorbed, and any hidden manual and/or Data-driven Task Links are shown. To complete the process, use the drag and drop method to move the unabsorbed task bar back to its previous row.

Adding Manual Task Links to Absorbed Tasks

Once two or more task bars are absorbed, the resulting absorbing task bar can be a Predecessor or Successor itself and be a part of a pair of manual Task Links. This applies also to an absorbing task bar that can have Data-driven Task Links. When an absorbing task bar with manual Task Links added (after the absorption process is finished) is unabsorbed, the manual Task Links are retained and the Where Are My Links? form entry for the manual Task Link is retained.

Changes to Task Links when Moving Task Bars/Milestone Symbols, Rows, or Swimlanes

You have the capability when editing the chart to move task bars/milestone symbols up or down from Row to Row as well as to move Rows and Swimlanes with their respective content of task bars/milestone symbols up or down in the chart. When you make any of these three edits, Data-driven and manual Task Links that are showing have their Task Link connection line geometry changed to retain the properties of the individual Task Links involved. Given the portion of a chart with Data-driven Task Links showing, what follows are three examples of how the chart changes when task bars/milestone symbols, row, and swimlanes are moved:

Original Chart with Task Links

Here is the chart before any task bars/milestone symbols, rows, or swimlanes are moved:

P70-19 1 1-70-(23)-09292020.png

Task Links After A Task Is Moved Downward

After moving the Create Working Plans task bar to the bottom row of the chart above, the result looks like this:

P70-19 1 1-70-(24)-09292020.png

Task Links After a Row is Moved Downward

Starting from the original chart, move the last Prime row in the Planning Phase swimlane to just above the last row in the chart. When this operation is completed the chart looks like the one below:

P70-19 1 1-70-(25)-09292020.png

Task Links After a Swimlane is Moved Downward

Finally, from the original chart, move the Planning Phase swimlane to a position between the Development Phase and Integration & Testing Phase swimlanes. When completed, this chart looks like the following:

P70-19 1 1-70-(26)-09292020.png

In the cases above, OnePager Pro attempt to route the Data-driven and manual Task Link connection lines so as to minimize their length and avoid conflicts with other graphics in the Chart Editor.

For more information about Rows and Swimlanes, please see the articles at: Creating and Editing Rows and Swimlanes (Portal)

Behavior of Data-Driven Task Links When Adding or Replacing Snapshots

OnePager updates the presentation of Data-driven Task Links in snapshots when you perform one of the Update workflows. These Update workflows include:

1) Performing a Replace-Dates, Replace-Dates and Progress, or Replace-All Properties for a snapshot.
2) Creating a NEW snapshot.

For the Replace-All Properties workflow there are two (2) situations that are specifically handled by OnePager. If you make a change to a Predecessor task in the source plan (e.g., by changing a Start-to-Finish dependency to Finish-to-Finish), OnePager makes the change to the Task Link Dependency Type during the Update. If the change involves no longer specifying a source plan Predecessor task/milestone for a Successor task/milestone, the Replace-All Properties workflow deletes the Data-driven Task Link from all snapshots.

For the NEW and REPLACE-Dates workflows, OnePager hides the Data-driven Task Link in the subject snapshot when there is no source plan Predecessor task/milestone specified.

OnePager does not process lag time for data-driven Task Links.

Related Links

Data-Driven Task Link Import Rules for OnePager Pro

Using the Where Are My Links? Form for OnePager Pro

Creating and Managing Virtual Summary Tasks

Absorbing one task into another

Advanced Tab for OnePager Pro

Creating and Editing Rows and Swimlanes (Portal)

Using Task Link Filtering Rules for Showing/Hiding Task Links for OnePager Pro

Managing Hidden Tasks and Milestones Using "Where's My Stuff?!"

Using the Where Are My Links? Form for OnePager Pro

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