Manual Task Links for OnePager Pro for Version 7.0

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Contents

About Manual Task Links

This article covers the enhancements made to manual Task Links in OnePager Pro.

First, the article reviews the basis controls for adding and deleting manual Task Links and goes on to cover other related command for managing manual Task Links in the chart with the Chart Editor. Next, the Daisy Chain feature is discussed and how it can be used to create a set of manual Task Links connecting two or more task bar/milestone symbols.

The next section covers all the controls available in the Chart Editor for editing manual Task Links.

Following is a discussion of Global editing techniques for manual Task Links using the Template Properties and Chart Properties forms.

The final section provides intermediate information on other topics such as selecting multiple Task Links, re-positioning Task Link connection lines with the drag and drop method, and taking task bar into consideration when re-positioning connection lines.

Basic Management of Manual Task Links

Adding Manual Task Links

Adding manual Task Links to the chart requires you to identify at least two (2) task bar/milestone symbols to serve as the manual Task Link pair. Select at least two tasks by left-clicking the first task bar or milestone symbol (predecessor) and then use the CTL+left-click to select the second and following (successor) task(s).

It is important for establishing the direction of the manual Task Link that the task bar/milestone symbol selection sequence is FIRST predecessor and SECOND successor. Then go to the Insert tab on the OnePager Pro ribbon and click the Task Link button:

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

The manual Task Link appears in the chart between the selected task bars or milestone symbols:

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

You can edit a manual Task Link by right-clicking on it to access the task link right-click context menu that looks like this:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(3)-09292020.png

Selecting more than one successor task bar/milestone symbol is supported by OnePager and is called a manual Task Link Daisy Chain.

Alternative Method for Adding Manual Task Links

A task bar right-click context menu command, Insert task link(s), is available in the task bar right-click context menu when two or more task bars/milestone symbols are selected as shown below

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(4)-09292020.png

The Insert task links(s) command is not available in the task bar right-click context menu when only one task bar/milestone symbol is selected. With two or more task bars/milestone symbols selected, clicking the Insert task link(s) command inserts a manual Task Link from the first task selected (predecessor) to the last (successor) task selected.

The Where Are My Links? Form

With the addition of Data-driven Task Links in OnePager Pro, it is necessary to provide you a list of manual and Data-driven Task Links to assist with the management of all Task Links in the chart and its snapshots. The Where Are My Links form was created for this purpose and is shown below:

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The Where Are My Links? form is accessed easily from the OnePager Pro Home ribbon in the Editing group of controls using the Show/Hide dropdown as shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(6)-09292020.png

The Where Are My Links? form can also be accessed in the Chart Properties form Task Links tab in the Data-Driven Task Links control group as shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(7)-09292020.png

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

Deleting Manual Task Links

To delete a manual Task Link from either the current snapshot or all snapshots, right-click on the manual Task Link to access the task link right-click context menu, and click one of the options for the Delete command in this context menu as shown below:

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

Deleting a manual Task Link from a snapshot removes the entry for the manual Task Link deleted from the Where Are My Links? form. Manual Task Links cannot be hidden whereas Data-driven Task Links can be hidden but not deleted.

Ordering Manual Task Links

The Order command in the manual task link right-click context menu allows you to place the selected manual Task Link(s) within the graph relative to other graphics in the Z-Level. The Order command operates similar to other Order command operations in OnePager. The Order command looks like this when you right-click a manual Task Link:

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

For more information on Deleting, ordering and changing images, please see the article at: Deleting, Ordering, and Changing Images

Adding Another ... Manual Task Link

The Add Another … command in the manual task link right-click context menu accesses the Task Link Properties form for the selected tasks/milestone shapes. This allows you to add another manual Task Link(s) between the same two or more selected task bar/milestone symbols.

Having two or more manual Task Links connecting the same set of task bars/milestone symbols allows you to alter the properties of the manual Task Links in the chart or to reroute their manual Task Link connection lines. When an another manual Task Link is added to the chart, the added manual Task Link is '''superimposed''' over the original manual Task Link but automatically shown as selected. Often, the added manual Task Link cannot be clearly seen, but it is there, so it is recommended that you edit the routing of this additional manual Task Link’s connection line as shown below where the second manual Task Link’s connection line is moved to the right:

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

The additional manual Task Link added to the chart is also represented as a new entry in the Where Are My Links? form as shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(11)-09292020.png

Putting Links in all Snapshots

The Put in all snapshots command assures that in a multi-snapshot chart the selected manual Task Link is included in all snapshots where the two or more participating tasks appear and other conditions are met. To have manual Task Links appear in only some snapshots they must be first established in all snapshots and manually deleted from those snapshots where the manual Task Links are not desired. You have the option, as noted in the Delete manual Task Links discussion above, to Delete manual Task Links from individual snapshots. To do this requires going to the desired snapshot and specifically using the Delete command from the selected manual task link right-click context menu with the From this snapshot sub-command to achieve the desired result. This option works in the same way as Deleting Curtains from specific snapshots.

For more information on Creating and managing curtains, please see the article at: Creating and Managing Curtains

Creating Daisy Chained Manual Task Links

As discussed above by selecting more than two task bars/milestone symbols you can create a series of manual Task Links called a Daisy Chain connecting the multiple task bars/milestone symbols you selected in one operation. 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 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 ribbon’s Insert tab shown here:

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

At the completion of the second step, the chart looks like this after you increased the row height and widen the Task Links to better show 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 created as Finish-to-Start Dependency types and have connection lines routed by OnePager to minimize conflicts with other graphics.

Alternative Method for Creating a Daisy Chain

Daisy Chained manual Task Links can also be created by selecting the task bars/milestone symbols as described above but using the right-click on any of the selected task bar/milestone symbol to access 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 below where the selected task bars/milestone symbols are to be connected with a Daisy Chained manual Task Link as the first step.

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

The second step is to right-click any of the selected task bars/milestone symbols to access the task bar right-click context menu shown 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 the Daisy Chained manual Task Link looks like this after widening the Task Links:

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

Creating Daisy Chains with the Lasso Option

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 feature 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 is used to select 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 task bar right-click context menu and click the Insert task link(s) command.

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

Creating Daisy Chains with Select all Ribbon Option

As an alternative to using the lasso to select all task bars/milestone symbols, you can use the OnePager ribbon’s Home 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, proceed with a right-click on any selected task bar/milestone symbol to access the task bar right-click context menu and click the Insert task link(s) command. Using the Select all technique to create a daisy chain of manual Task Links tells OnePager that you want the resulting daisy chain to progress from upper left to lower right. Not selecting all tasks/milestone shapes 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 was made.

If you need to select some task bars/milestone symbols but not all by using the CTL+Left-Click technique for selection, OnePager 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 ribbon command or the task bar right-click context menu command to Insert task link(s), results with widened Task Links is shown below:

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

Caution: Some care is needed 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.

It is recommended that you do not combine these techniques for selecting task bars/milestone symbols in a single action but use separate actions in individual steps with the Insert task link(s) command used between steps while making sure that selected task bars/milestone symbols are de-selected between steps.

Editing Manual Task Links

Manual Editing of Task Link Properties in the Chart Editor

Manual Task Links can be easily edited in the chart. Editing manual Task Links results in the edited manual 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.

Using the Chart Properties form to edit Task Links is discussed below.

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

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(24)-09292020.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 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 1 2 1-70-70-(26)-09292020.png

Editing Individual Manual Task Links

Individually editing manual Task Link is initiated by right-clicking on the manual Task Link to access the selected manual task link right-click context menu shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(27)-09292020.png

Delete Command

Deleting a manual Task Link includes two options: (1) At this snapshot and (2) At all snapshots. Deleting a manual Task Link At this snapshot and removes its presence from the current snapshot. The action also un-checks the entry for this manual Task Link in the Where Are My Links? form for this snapshot but the entry remains in the form.

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 ON in the Where Are My Links? form. Rechecking the entry ON yourself also restores the subject manual Task Link at the current snapshot.

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. Since the entry in the Where Are My Links? form is gone; the deleted manual Task Link cannot be restored through the form. 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.

Order, Add Another ..., and Put at all snapshots Commands

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

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(28)-09292020.png

The Add another … command, when clicked, immediately adds another Task Link to the selected pair of task bars or milestone symbols with the same properties as the original manual Task Link selected. 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-(29)-09292020.png

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/milestones shapes appear and meet other conditions. 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 1 2 1-70-70-(30)-09292020.png

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 Task Link mavericks is considered to be 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 where it appears. 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 manual Task Links.

Enhanced Manual Task Link Property Formatting Capabilities

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

As mentioned above, OnePager has an enhanced 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.

Dash Type

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:

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Arrow Style

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.

Corner Radius

You also have options when specifying 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
Dependency Type

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.

The Custom Dependency type 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 Data-driven and manual Task Links, you have control over where the Task Link Vertical Anchors connect to the task bars/milestone symbols. There are four (4) Vertical Anchor point options each for the Predecessor and Successor task bars.

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 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.

Editing Daisy Chain Properties in the Chart Editor

Recall that Daisy Chains are represented in the chart as a set of individual manual Task Links conveniently created using a simple technique. As such, the manual Task Links included in the Daisy Chain set can be edited using the techniques discussed above by selecting either a single manual Task Link in the set or multiple manual Task Links. Once selected editing is accomplished as described above.

Manual Task Links included in the Daisy Chain set are not represented as such in the Where Are My Links? form but as individual manual Task Link entries.

Global Task Link Property Editing Capabilities Using the Template Properties and Chart Properties forms

Global editing of all Task Links can be performed in two (2) ways:

1) Using the Template Properties form’s Task Link tab, or
2) Using the Chart Properties form’s Task Link tab

Both the Template Properties and the Chart Properties form’s Task Link tabs are almost the same controls so this section describes the controls in the Chart Properties form’s Task Link tab. These same control operations work the same in the Template Properties form’s Task Link tab.

Template Properties Form Task Link Properties Tab

As with all editing with the Template Properties form, edits made in the Template Properties form control how the first chart is created and what settings are promulgated to the Chart Properties form's Task Links tab. After a chart is created, global editing is performed with the Chart Properties form.

The Template Properties form's Task Link tab looks like this:

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Chart Properties Form Task Link Properties Tab

The Template Properties form and the Chart Properties form’s Task Links tab have a “Master” control for turning the Task Link feature ON and OFF and two major control groups for the Chart Properties form are shown below:

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The Show task links checkbox is the major control available in both the Template Properties and Chart Properties form’s Task Links tab. This checkbox, when checked ON, enables the entire Task Link feature in OnePager. If this checkbox is turned OFF in the Template Properties form, no Data-driven Task Links are imported. Likewise, if this checkbox is turned Off in the Template Properties form, no manual Task Links can be created. The Default Task Link Formatting control group is set to the distributed default settings for manual and Data-driven Task Links. These controls are used for detailed formatting of all Task Links shown.

The control sub-group controls include:

1) Line Style sub-group: The Line Style controls provide the means to select the connection line color, the Width of the connection lines, the connection line Dash type, and the connection line Corner radius.
2) The Line Style Width and Dash type are defined the same as used elsewhere in OnePager for connection lines associated with baselines, endpoints, and comment boxes.
3) The Corner radius is a parameter denoting the number of pixels that are used to make the connection line’s 90 degree corners.
4) The larger the pixel count, the more rounded the connection line corner appears.
5) For more information on this subject please see this section in the article at: Using the Task Link Properties Form to Edit Task Link Format Properties
6) Arrow Style: The Arrow Style control sub-group allows you to select the Begin Type anchor point shape and End Type anchor point shape for each Task Link.
7) You also have control over the size of each anchor point shape.
8) Horizontal Anchor (Manual Task Links Only) controls: This control sub-group permits you to specify the Dependency Type for manual Task Links only.
9) You also have slider bar controls over the positioning of the Begin point shape of the Task Link on the predecessor task bar/milestone symbol and the positioning of the End point shape on the successor task bar/milestone symbol.
10) Vertical Anchor (All Task Links) controls: This control sub-group gives you control over where the Task Links are connected to the predecessor and successor task bars/milestone symbols in terms of the Top of the task bar/milestone symbol, the Middle, or the Bottom for predecessor and successor task bars/milestone symbols.
11) Clicking the Auto radio button ON tells OnePager to make this determination as best it can to avoid cluttering within the chart.

The Data-Driven Task Links control group does not apply to manual Task Links but is mentioned here for completeness in this discussion because it controls the import of Data-driven Task Links. The Data-Driven Task Links control group provides the controls for turning On and OFF the Data-driven Task Link import and show feature, The control group specifies globally what Data-driven Task Links are shown. It provides access to the Task Link Filter Rules form. And, it provides access to the Where Are My Links? form.

Other Topics

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

OnePager Pro permits you to select multiple manual Task Links using the CTL+Left-Click method. Because there are two (2) 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 right-click context menu and you select Task Links of different types, OnePager provides the context menu for the Task Link type which you used the right-click to access the task link right-click context menu.

If you selected a manual Task Link first, and with the CTL+Left-Click, 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 right-click context menu shown below:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(44)-09292020.png

If you reverse the selection above and right-click on the manual Task Link second, OnePager provides the manual task link right-click context menu shown here:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(45)-09292020.png

The difference between the two types of 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 context menus are almost identical with the exception that the manual task link right-click context menu has the Add another … command and the Data-driven Task Link right-click context menu does not. When you do make multiple Task Link selections of different types of Task Links and use one of the task link right-click context menu to access the Task Links Properties form by clicking the Properties … command in the context menu, the Task Links Properties form looks like this:

P70-19 1 2 1-70-70-(46)-09292020.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.

Caution: You can override OnePager’s determination of Begin and End Types by making your own selections in the above form. When you make multiple Task Link selections of the same type of Task Links and use the designated context menu to access the Task Links Properties form by clicking the Properties … command in the designated context menu, the Task Links Properties form looks the same as the illustration above except that OnePager can be 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.

Repositioning 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/milestones. This capability is 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 repositioning 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/milestone. The selection grab points behave as described below 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 bar/milestone symbol 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.

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:

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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 manual Task Link without causing the Task Link to become a maverick.

Repositioning Task Link Connection Lines on Various Task Bar Shapes

OnePager Pro has a variety of task bars available, so there are a few tips for re-positioning Task Link Begin/End points you can use 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:

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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 has moved downward on the shape do to its geometry.

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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 is likely set to Auto as shown here:

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

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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.

Related Links

Conditional Formatting (Portal)

Creating and Managing Curtains

Using the Where Are My Links? Form for OnePager Pro

Background Images (Portal)

Deleting, Ordering, and Changing Images

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