Difference between revisions of "Creating and Managing Comment Boxes for Version 6.0"
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==About Creating and Managing Comment Boxes== | ==About Creating and Managing Comment Boxes== | ||
| − | '''Comment boxes''' are a way to attach additional text to a task or milestone that may not otherwise exist in your Microsoft Project or Microsoft Excel '''source plan'''. They are a great way to call attention to critical information to support | + | '''Comment boxes''' are a way to attach additional text to a task or milestone shape that may not otherwise exist in your Microsoft Project or Microsoft Excel '''source plan'''. |
| + | |||
| + | They are a great way to call attention to critical information to support schedule conversations. | ||
==Adding Comment Boxes== | ==Adding Comment Boxes== | ||
| − | 1) To add a comment box to any selected task/milestone | + | 1) To add a '''comment box''' to any selected task/milestone, right-clicking the task/milestone and select the '''Comments…''' command from the '''context menu''' as shown below: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(1)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(1)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 15: | Line 17: | ||
3) A brief description of some of the parameters in this form follows: | 3) A brief description of some of the parameters in this form follows: | ||
| − | :a) '''Comment''' The text you enter that appears in the comment box. | + | :a) '''Comment'''. The text you enter that appears in the '''comment box'''. |
| − | :b) '''Box Size''' The size of the comment box in inches or centimeters. | + | :b) '''Box Size'''. The size of the '''comment box''' in inches or centimeters. |
| − | :c) '''Offset from Anchor''' The displacement of the comment box from the anchor position. Normally you would drag the box to a new position, but you can also set the position with these controls. | + | :c) '''Offset from Anchor'''. The displacement of the '''comment box''' from the '''anchor position''' on the task/milestone shape. Normally you would drag the box to a new position, but you can also set the position with these controls. |
| − | :d) '''Anchor Position''' The horizontal location along the selected task/milestone at which the comment box is '''anchored'''. It is a '''percentage''' of the task/milestone’s '''time duration'''. | + | :d) '''Anchor Position'''. The horizontal location along the selected task/milestone at which the '''comment box''' is '''anchored'''. It is a '''percentage''' of the task/milestone’s '''time duration'''. |
| − | :e) '''Font''' The dropdown arrow gives you access to the '''Font properties''' from which | + | :e) '''Font'''. The dropdown arrow gives you access to the '''Font properties''' from which controls for changing the '''font type''', '''color''', and '''size''' of the text in the '''comment box''' are accessed. Additionally, you have control over the text with respect to '''Bold''', ''Italics'', and [[Underline]]. |
| − | :f) '''Bkg Color (Background Color)''' This control uses the standard '''Color Chooser''' to select the '''color''' for the background within the comment box. | + | :f) '''Bkg Color (Background Color)'''. This control uses the standard '''Color Chooser''' to select the '''color''' for the background within the '''comment box'''. |
| − | :g) '''Anchor Shapes | + | :g) '''Anchor Shapes'''. The control lets you select from the symbols available an '''anchors shape''' for the '''comment box''' to the task/milestone. The '''anchor shapes''' are the same shapes available for milestones. |
| − | :h) '''Anchor Color''' The control lets you select the '''color''' of the '''anchor shape''' on the task/milestone. | + | :h) '''Anchor Color'''. The control lets you select the '''color''' of the '''anchor shape''' on the task/milestone. |
| − | :i) '''Attach Comment to All Snapshots''' If this | + | :i) '''Attach Comment to All Snapshots'''. If this checkbox checked, the '''comment box''' will appear in '''all snapshots'''. Later on, you can delete the '''comment box''' from any '''snapshot''' you choose. |
| − | :j) '''Restore Defaults''' Checking this | + | :j) '''Restore Defaults'''. Checking this checkbox will restore the ''' default properties''' of the '''comment box''' to the settings in the Project-View Properties ('''PVP''') form. |
| − | 4) Make your option selections in the '''Create or edit comment box''' form and click '''OK''' to represent the comment box on the selected task/milestone. | + | 4) Make your option selections in the '''Create or edit comment box''' form and click '''OK''' to represent the '''comment box''' on the selected task/milestone. |
==Adding A Comment Box Using the Comment Box Button== | ==Adding A Comment Box Using the Comment Box Button== | ||
| − | 1) As an alternative way of adding a comment box to a task/milestone, select the desired task/milestone and then click the '''Comment Box''' button in the '''Insert''' tab of the ribbon as shown below: | + | 1) As an alternative way of adding a '''comment box''' to a task/milestone, select the desired task/milestone and then click the '''Comment Box''' button in the '''Insert''' tab of the ribbon as shown below: |
<center>[[File:P53-13_0_1-53-(1)-03082016.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P53-13_0_1-53-(1)-03082016.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 45: | Line 47: | ||
2) Clicking the '''Comment Box''' button will bring up the '''Create or edit comment box''' form where you can make your option setting selections. | 2) Clicking the '''Comment Box''' button will bring up the '''Create or edit comment box''' form where you can make your option setting selections. | ||
| − | 3) When all settings are made, click '''OK''' and the comment box will be displayed with the selected task/milestone. | + | 3) When all settings are made, click '''OK''' and the '''comment box''' will be displayed with the selected task/milestone. |
==Editing Comment Boxes== | ==Editing Comment Boxes== | ||
| Line 51: | Line 53: | ||
===Drag and Drop=== | ===Drag and Drop=== | ||
| − | 1) After creating a comment box, you can drag it another position | + | 1) After creating a '''comment box''', you can drag it another position in the '''document area''', as is shown below: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(3)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(3)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 57: | Line 59: | ||
===Manage Comment Box Properties=== | ===Manage Comment Box Properties=== | ||
| − | 2) Select one or more comment boxes (hold down the '''CTRL key''' to select several of them) and then change their properties in one of several ways: | + | 2) Select one or more '''comment boxes''' (hold down the '''CTRL key''' to select several of them) and then change their properties in one of several ways: |
3) Right-click one to get the '''context menu''' shown below: | 3) Right-click one to get the '''context menu''' shown below: | ||
| Line 63: | Line 65: | ||
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(4)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(4)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | 4) Select the '''Properties…''' command to bring up the '''Create or edit comment box''' form shown above. In this form you can change properties of the selected comment boxes. | + | 4) Select the '''Properties…''' command to bring up the '''Create or edit comment box''' form shown above. In this form you can change properties of the selected '''comment boxes'''. |
| − | 5) As an alternative, you may use the controls on the '''Home''' tab to change the '''font properties''' or '''background color''' of the selected comment box: | + | 5) As an alternative, you may use the controls on the '''Home''' tab to change the '''font properties''' or '''background color''' of the selected '''comment box''': |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(5)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(5)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | 6) Go to the '''Home''' tab and then choose one of the editing commands that are active for selected comment boxes: | + | 6) Go to the '''Home''' tab and then choose one of the editing commands that are active for selected '''comment boxes''': |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(6)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(6)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 75: | Line 77: | ||
===Managing Background Color=== | ===Managing Background Color=== | ||
| − | 7) There are a couple of options regarding the '''background color''' for a comment box: | + | 7) There are a couple of options regarding the '''background color''' for a '''comment box''': |
| − | :a) When a comment box is created for an individual task/milestone, the '''Create or edit comment box''' form is displayed and the '''Bkg color''' window in this form allows you to change the '''background color''' for that individual comment box. | + | :a) When a '''comment box''' is created for an individual task/milestone, the '''Create or edit comment box''' form is displayed and the '''Bkg color''' window in this form allows you to change the '''background color''' for that individual '''comment box'''. |
| − | :b) You may change the | + | :b) You may change the '''comment box’s background color''' by right-clicking on the '''comment box''' to display the '''context menu''' and select the '''Properties…''' command to bring up the '''Create or edit comment box''' form. Then, click the '''Bkg Color''' control. |
:c) You can turn on the '''No Fill''' feature by selecting the '''No Fill''' checkbox after clicking the '''Bkg Color''' control shown below: | :c) You can turn on the '''No Fill''' feature by selecting the '''No Fill''' checkbox after clicking the '''Bkg Color''' control shown below: | ||
| Line 85: | Line 87: | ||
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(7)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(7)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | :d) Clicking the '''OK''' button changes the comment box to look like this: | + | :d) Clicking the '''OK''' button changes the '''comment box''' to look like this: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(8)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(8)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 91: | Line 93: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
| − | 1) You may eliminate the '''border''', '''connecting line''', and '''anchor''' for a comment box by checking the '''Transparent''' checkbox shown above in the '''Create or edit comment box''' form. | + | 1) You may eliminate the '''border''', '''connecting line''', and '''anchor''' for a '''comment box''' by checking the '''Transparent''' checkbox shown above in the '''Create or edit comment box''' form. |
| − | 2) Unchecking the '''No Fill''' checkbox is a three step process as described in | + | 2) Unchecking the '''No Fill''' checkbox is a three step process as described in this article: [[Changing Individual Task/Milestone Properties (Color, Shapes, etc.) for Version 6.0 | Changing Individual Task/Milestone Properties (Color, Shapes, etc.)]]. <!--9.2.1-60--> |
==Deleting Comment Boxes== | ==Deleting Comment Boxes== | ||
| − | To delete a comment box, follow the steps shown below: | + | To delete a '''comment box''', follow the steps shown below: |
| − | 1) Right-click on the selected comment box and choose '''Delete''' from the context menu. You have two (2) option to '''delete''' the comment box: | + | 1) Right-click on the selected '''comment box''' and choose '''Delete''' from the '''context menu'''. You have two (2) option to '''delete''' the '''comment box''': |
:(1) from the '''current snapshot only''', or | :(1) from the '''current snapshot only''', or | ||
| − | :(2) to delete | + | :(2) to delete from '''all snapshots'''. |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(9)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(9)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | 2) Generally, it is more common to '''delete''' a comment box from '''all snapshots''', unless you want it to reappear at a different '''snapshot''' later on. | + | 2) Generally, it is more common to '''delete''' a '''comment box''' from '''all snapshots''', unless you want it to reappear at a different '''snapshot''' later on. |
==Ordering Comment Boxes== | ==Ordering Comment Boxes== | ||
| − | '''Comment boxes''', when created, are automatically displayed in front of all other graphics. If you want to avoid covering up tasks/milestones or labels, you may use the '''Order''' command to adjust the display of comment boxes on the ''' | + | '''Comment boxes''', when created, are automatically displayed in front of all other graphics. If you want to avoid covering up tasks/milestones or '''labels''', you may use the '''Order''' command to adjust the display of '''comment boxes''' on the '''Z-Axis''' as described in the steps below: |
| − | 1) Right-click on the selected comment box and then click on the '''Order''' command as shown below: | + | 1) Right-click on the selected '''comment box''' and then click on the '''Order''' command as shown below: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(10)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(10)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | 2) Mousing over the '''Order''' command will bring up four sub-commands as shown above. These are explained in detail in the [[The Project View Legend for Version | + | 2) Mousing over the '''Order''' command will bring up four sub-commands as shown above. These are explained in detail in the [[The Project View Legend for Version 6.0 (Portal) | The Project View Legend (Portal)]] <!--15.0.1-60--> group of articles. |
| − | 3) As shown above, the comment box appears to be hiding the baseline element of the task. If you want that baseline element to appear on top of the comment box, click the '''Send to back''' sub-command and the project view will look like this: | + | 3) As shown above, the '''comment box''' appears to be hiding the baseline element of the task. If you want that baseline element to appear on top of the '''comment box''', click the '''Send to back''' sub-command and the project view will look like this: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(11)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(11)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 125: | Line 127: | ||
==Adding Another Comment Box== | ==Adding Another Comment Box== | ||
| − | You may want to have more than one comment box attached to a selected task/milestone. To accomplish this use the '''Add another…''' sub-command as described in the steps below: | + | You may want to have more than one '''comment box''' attached to a selected task/milestone. To accomplish this, use the '''Add another…''' sub-command as described in the steps below: |
| − | 1) Right-click on any comment box attached to the task/milestone that requires an additional comment box. Then click the '''Add another…''' sub-command. | + | 1) Right-click on any '''comment box''' attached to the task/milestone that requires an additional '''comment box'''. Then click the '''Add another…''' sub-command in the '''context menu'''. |
| − | 2) These actions bring up the '''Create or edit comment box''' form where you can specify the new comment box’s '''text label''' and other properties. | + | 2) These actions bring up the '''Create or edit comment box''' form where you can specify the new '''comment box’s''' '''text label''' and other properties. |
| − | 3) When you click the '''OK''' button, the added comment box will be displayed on the selected task/milestone as shown here as an example: | + | 3) When you click the '''OK''' button, the added '''comment box''' will be displayed on the selected task/milestone as shown here as an example: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(12)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(12)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 137: | Line 139: | ||
==Putting Selected Comment Box in All Snapshots== | ==Putting Selected Comment Box in All Snapshots== | ||
| − | 1) The default setting for created comment boxes is to put the comment box in '''all snapshots'''. Sometimes a comment box is only appropriate for a '''selected snapshot''' and should not appear in '''all snapshots'''. When this is the desired result, you should uncheck the '''Attach to All Snapshots''' checkbox in the '''Create or edit comment box''' form when the comment box is first created. | + | 1) The default setting for created '''comment boxes''' is to put the '''comment box''' in '''all snapshots'''. |
| + | |||
| + | :a) Sometimes a '''comment box''' is only appropriate for a '''selected snapshot''' and should not appear in '''all snapshots'''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | :b) When this is the desired result, you should uncheck the '''Attach to All Snapshots''' checkbox in the '''Create or edit comment box''' form when the '''comment box''' is first created. | ||
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(13)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(13)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | 2) The comment box created in this manner will have all its other properties set to the default values. | + | 2) The '''comment box''' created in this manner will have all its other properties set to the default values. |
| − | 3) Should you subsequently decide that this comment box should be included in '''all snapshots''', right-click on the comment box and click the '''Put at all snapshots''' sub-command as shown below: | + | 3) Should you subsequently decide that this '''comment box''' should be included in '''all snapshots''', right-click on the '''comment box''' and click the '''Put at all snapshots''' sub-command in the '''context menu''' as shown below: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(14)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(14)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 149: | Line 155: | ||
==Making Comment Boxes Invisible Except for the Text== | ==Making Comment Boxes Invisible Except for the Text== | ||
| − | Sometimes it would be convenient to put some text at some arbitrary position near a task or milestone but not have it surrounded by a box border and connected by an anchor line | + | Sometimes it would be convenient to put some text at some arbitrary position near a task or milestone but not have it surrounded by a '''box border''' and '''connected''' by an '''anchor line'''. |
| − | We start with this: | + | In the example below, we push the task name into a '''comment box''' and then make the '''comment box''' itself invisible. |
| + | |||
| + | 1) We start with this: | ||
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(15)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(15)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | + | 2) Right-click the task/milestone, select '''Format…''' command, and then go to the '''Task Label''' tab of the '''Change Marker Properties''' form shown below: | |
<center>[[File:P53-13_0_1-53-(2)-03172016.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P53-13_0_1-53-(2)-03172016.png]]</center> | ||
| − | + | 3) Change the '''Label Position''' window to the '''in comment box''' option. '''Start and finish dates''', if displayed with the '''task label''', are not brought into the '''comment box'''. | |
| + | |||
| + | 4) This will push the '''task name''' into a '''comment box''' as shown below: | ||
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(16)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(16)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | + | 5) To make the '''comment box''' and '''anchor line''' disappear, right-click on the '''comment box''' and click the '''Properties…''' command in the '''context menu''' to bring up the '''Create or edit comment box''' form: | |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(17)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(17)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | + | 6) The last step is to check the '''Transparent''' checkbox, which makes the '''comment box''' look like this: | |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(18)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(18)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | + | 7) Above, the '''comment box’s border''' and '''connector''' are both made transparent. | |
==Moving and Resizing Comment Boxes== | ==Moving and Resizing Comment Boxes== | ||
| − | To move or resize a comment box the box must first be selected. Selecting a comment box, will result in the comment box being highlighted and surrounded by '''eight grab boxes''' as shown below: | + | To move or resize a '''comment box''', the box must first be selected. Selecting a '''comment box''', will result in the '''comment box''' being highlighted and surrounded by '''eight grab boxes''' as shown below: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(19)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(19)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 181: | Line 191: | ||
===Moving a Comment Box=== | ===Moving a Comment Box=== | ||
| − | 1) To move the comment box, just select it and drag the outline to the new position: | + | 1) To move the '''comment box''', just select it and drag the outline to the new position: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(20)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(20)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 191: | Line 201: | ||
===Resizing a Comment Box=== | ===Resizing a Comment Box=== | ||
| − | 3) To resize a comment box, select the comment box to display the highlight and '''eight (8) grab boxes''' used to resize the comment box as shown below: | + | 3) To resize a '''comment box''', select the '''comment box''' to display the highlight and '''eight (8) grab boxes''' used to resize the '''comment box''' as shown below: |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(22)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(22)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | 4) In the project view above the lower left '''grab box''' is selected. When the mouse is moved a rectangle shows the proposed comment box new position. This intermediate step is shown below: | + | 4) In the project view above the lower left '''grab box''' is selected. |
| + | |||
| + | 5) When the mouse is moved a rectangle shows the proposed '''comment box''' new position. This intermediate step is shown below: | ||
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(23)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(23)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | + | 6) When the left mouse button is released, the '''comment box''' is '''resized''' and redrawn as shown below: | |
<center>[[File:P52-13_-(24)-06042015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P52-13_-(24)-06042015.png]]</center> | ||
| Line 205: | Line 217: | ||
==Additional Comment Box Content Options== | ==Additional Comment Box Content Options== | ||
| − | 1) OnePager allows you to display a task bar or milestone’s '''label''' in a comment box connected to the task bar or milestone symbol. | + | 1) OnePager allows you to display a task bar or milestone’s '''label''' in a '''comment box''' connected to the task bar or milestone symbol. |
| − | + | :a) This has always been the case. | |
| − | 3) This is shown below where all tasks/milestones are displaying '''label text''', '''start dates''', '''finish dates''', and '''percent complete''' values in one task was selected to display this information in a comment box. | + | :b) OnePager can display task bar '''start and finish dates''', the '''milestone date''', and task bar and milestone '''percent complete (%Complete)''' information in a '''comment box'''. |
| + | |||
| + | 2) Whenever, either through the '''Template Properties''' or the '''PVP''' form, you elect to display '''start date''', '''finish date''', and/or '''percent complete''' text for task/milestones, you can cause this information to be displayed in a task/milestone '''comment box'''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 3) This is shown below where all tasks/milestones are displaying '''label text''', '''start dates''', '''finish dates''', and '''percent complete''' values in one task was selected to display this information in a '''comment box'''. | ||
<center>[[File:P53-0_2-(10)-08262015.png]]</center> | <center>[[File:P53-0_2-(10)-08262015.png]]</center> | ||
| − | 4) Controls for the outcome illustrated above are found by right-clicking on the selected task, selecting the '''Format…''' command in the context menu, and then using '''Change Marker Properties''' form’s '''Dates''' tab and '''Percent Complete''' tabs' controls to achieve the desired combination of information to display. | + | 4) Controls for the outcome illustrated above are found by right-clicking on the selected task, selecting the '''Format…''' command in the '''context menu''', and then using '''Change Marker Properties''' form’s '''Dates''' tab and '''Percent Complete''' tabs' controls to achieve the desired combination of information to display. |
| − | + | 5) The settings for the '''Dates''' tab and the '''Percent Complete''' tab of the '''Change Marker Properties''' forms are shown below: | |
| + | <center>[[File:P53-0_2-(11A)-11042015.png]]</center> | ||
Latest revision as of 15:06, 11 April 2017
Contents
- 1 About Creating and Managing Comment Boxes
- 2 Adding Comment Boxes
- 3 Adding A Comment Box Using the Comment Box Button
- 4 Editing Comment Boxes
- 5 Notes
- 6 Deleting Comment Boxes
- 7 Ordering Comment Boxes
- 8 Adding Another Comment Box
- 9 Putting Selected Comment Box in All Snapshots
- 10 Making Comment Boxes Invisible Except for the Text
- 11 Moving and Resizing Comment Boxes
- 12 Additional Comment Box Content Options
About Creating and Managing Comment Boxes
Comment boxes are a way to attach additional text to a task or milestone shape that may not otherwise exist in your Microsoft Project or Microsoft Excel source plan.
They are a great way to call attention to critical information to support schedule conversations.
Adding Comment Boxes
1) To add a comment box to any selected task/milestone, right-clicking the task/milestone and select the Comments… command from the context menu as shown below:
-06042015.png)
2) This action brings up the Create or edit comment box form shown here:
-06042015.png)
3) A brief description of some of the parameters in this form follows:
- a) Comment. The text you enter that appears in the comment box.
- b) Box Size. The size of the comment box in inches or centimeters.
- c) Offset from Anchor. The displacement of the comment box from the anchor position on the task/milestone shape. Normally you would drag the box to a new position, but you can also set the position with these controls.
- d) Anchor Position. The horizontal location along the selected task/milestone at which the comment box is anchored. It is a percentage of the task/milestone’s time duration.
- e) Font. The dropdown arrow gives you access to the Font properties from which controls for changing the font type, color, and size of the text in the comment box are accessed. Additionally, you have control over the text with respect to Bold, Italics, and Underline.
- f) Bkg Color (Background Color). This control uses the standard Color Chooser to select the color for the background within the comment box.
- g) Anchor Shapes. The control lets you select from the symbols available an anchors shape for the comment box to the task/milestone. The anchor shapes are the same shapes available for milestones.
- h) Anchor Color. The control lets you select the color of the anchor shape on the task/milestone.
- i) Attach Comment to All Snapshots. If this checkbox checked, the comment box will appear in all snapshots. Later on, you can delete the comment box from any snapshot you choose.
- j) Restore Defaults. Checking this checkbox will restore the default properties of the comment box to the settings in the Project-View Properties (PVP) form.
4) Make your option selections in the Create or edit comment box form and click OK to represent the comment box on the selected task/milestone.
Adding A Comment Box Using the Comment Box Button
1) As an alternative way of adding a comment box to a task/milestone, select the desired task/milestone and then click the Comment Box button in the Insert tab of the ribbon as shown below:
-03082016.png)
2) Clicking the Comment Box button will bring up the Create or edit comment box form where you can make your option setting selections.
3) When all settings are made, click OK and the comment box will be displayed with the selected task/milestone.
Editing Comment Boxes
Drag and Drop
1) After creating a comment box, you can drag it another position in the document area, as is shown below:
-06042015.png)
Manage Comment Box Properties
2) Select one or more comment boxes (hold down the CTRL key to select several of them) and then change their properties in one of several ways:
3) Right-click one to get the context menu shown below:
-06042015.png)
4) Select the Properties… command to bring up the Create or edit comment box form shown above. In this form you can change properties of the selected comment boxes.
5) As an alternative, you may use the controls on the Home tab to change the font properties or background color of the selected comment box:
-06042015.png)
6) Go to the Home tab and then choose one of the editing commands that are active for selected comment boxes:
-06042015.png)
Managing Background Color
7) There are a couple of options regarding the background color for a comment box:
- a) When a comment box is created for an individual task/milestone, the Create or edit comment box form is displayed and the Bkg color window in this form allows you to change the background color for that individual comment box.
- b) You may change the comment box’s background color by right-clicking on the comment box to display the context menu and select the Properties… command to bring up the Create or edit comment box form. Then, click the Bkg Color control.
- c) You can turn on the No Fill feature by selecting the No Fill checkbox after clicking the Bkg Color control shown below:
-06042015.png)
- d) Clicking the OK button changes the comment box to look like this:
-06042015.png)
Notes
1) You may eliminate the border, connecting line, and anchor for a comment box by checking the Transparent checkbox shown above in the Create or edit comment box form.
2) Unchecking the No Fill checkbox is a three step process as described in this article: Changing Individual Task/Milestone Properties (Color, Shapes, etc.).
Deleting Comment Boxes
To delete a comment box, follow the steps shown below:
1) Right-click on the selected comment box and choose Delete from the context menu. You have two (2) option to delete the comment box:
- (1) from the current snapshot only, or
- (2) to delete from all snapshots.
-06042015.png)
2) Generally, it is more common to delete a comment box from all snapshots, unless you want it to reappear at a different snapshot later on.
Ordering Comment Boxes
Comment boxes, when created, are automatically displayed in front of all other graphics. If you want to avoid covering up tasks/milestones or labels, you may use the Order command to adjust the display of comment boxes on the Z-Axis as described in the steps below:
1) Right-click on the selected comment box and then click on the Order command as shown below:
-06042015.png)
2) Mousing over the Order command will bring up four sub-commands as shown above. These are explained in detail in the The Project View Legend (Portal) group of articles.
3) As shown above, the comment box appears to be hiding the baseline element of the task. If you want that baseline element to appear on top of the comment box, click the Send to back sub-command and the project view will look like this:
-06042015.png)
Adding Another Comment Box
You may want to have more than one comment box attached to a selected task/milestone. To accomplish this, use the Add another… sub-command as described in the steps below:
1) Right-click on any comment box attached to the task/milestone that requires an additional comment box. Then click the Add another… sub-command in the context menu.
2) These actions bring up the Create or edit comment box form where you can specify the new comment box’s text label and other properties.
3) When you click the OK button, the added comment box will be displayed on the selected task/milestone as shown here as an example:
-06042015.png)
Putting Selected Comment Box in All Snapshots
1) The default setting for created comment boxes is to put the comment box in all snapshots.
- a) Sometimes a comment box is only appropriate for a selected snapshot and should not appear in all snapshots.
- b) When this is the desired result, you should uncheck the Attach to All Snapshots checkbox in the Create or edit comment box form when the comment box is first created.
-06042015.png)
2) The comment box created in this manner will have all its other properties set to the default values.
3) Should you subsequently decide that this comment box should be included in all snapshots, right-click on the comment box and click the Put at all snapshots sub-command in the context menu as shown below:
-06042015.png)
Making Comment Boxes Invisible Except for the Text
Sometimes it would be convenient to put some text at some arbitrary position near a task or milestone but not have it surrounded by a box border and connected by an anchor line.
In the example below, we push the task name into a comment box and then make the comment box itself invisible.
1) We start with this:
-06042015.png){kind=small}
2) Right-click the task/milestone, select Format… command, and then go to the Task Label tab of the Change Marker Properties form shown below:
-03172016.png)
3) Change the Label Position window to the in comment box option. Start and finish dates, if displayed with the task label, are not brought into the comment box.
4) This will push the task name into a comment box as shown below:
-06042015.png)
5) To make the comment box and anchor line disappear, right-click on the comment box and click the Properties… command in the context menu to bring up the Create or edit comment box form:
-06042015.png)
6) The last step is to check the Transparent checkbox, which makes the comment box look like this:
-06042015.png)
7) Above, the comment box’s border and connector are both made transparent.
Moving and Resizing Comment Boxes
To move or resize a comment box, the box must first be selected. Selecting a comment box, will result in the comment box being highlighted and surrounded by eight grab boxes as shown below:
-06042015.png)
Moving a Comment Box
1) To move the comment box, just select it and drag the outline to the new position:
-06042015.png)
2) Releasing the left-mouse completes the move as shown below:
-06042015.png)
Resizing a Comment Box
3) To resize a comment box, select the comment box to display the highlight and eight (8) grab boxes used to resize the comment box as shown below:
-06042015.png)
4) In the project view above the lower left grab box is selected.
5) When the mouse is moved a rectangle shows the proposed comment box new position. This intermediate step is shown below:
-06042015.png)
6) When the left mouse button is released, the comment box is resized and redrawn as shown below:
-06042015.png)
Additional Comment Box Content Options
1) OnePager allows you to display a task bar or milestone’s label in a comment box connected to the task bar or milestone symbol.
- a) This has always been the case.
- b) OnePager can display task bar start and finish dates, the milestone date, and task bar and milestone percent complete (%Complete) information in a comment box.
2) Whenever, either through the Template Properties or the PVP form, you elect to display start date, finish date, and/or percent complete text for task/milestones, you can cause this information to be displayed in a task/milestone comment box.
3) This is shown below where all tasks/milestones are displaying label text, start dates, finish dates, and percent complete values in one task was selected to display this information in a comment box.
-08262015.png)
4) Controls for the outcome illustrated above are found by right-clicking on the selected task, selecting the Format… command in the context menu, and then using Change Marker Properties form’s Dates tab and Percent Complete tabs' controls to achieve the desired combination of information to display.
5) The settings for the Dates tab and the Percent Complete tab of the Change Marker Properties forms are shown below:
-11042015.png)
-11042015.png)
(13.0.1-60)
