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Revision as of 21:07, 19 January 2021

Overview

This article covers the Global editing of Task Links. As with all global editing, the OnePager Express Template Properties and the Chart Properties form are involved. As mentioned elsewhere with respect to OnePager Express' Task Links feature, the Template Properties form’s Task Links tab is almost identical to the same tab in the Chart Properties form.

For more information on the Template Properties form’s Task Links tab, please see this section in the article at: Template Only Features-OnePager Express – Task Links Tab

In the discussion that follows on global editing using the Chart Properties form’s Task Links tab, 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 Express for Version 7.0

The Task Links tab of the Chart Properties form (See the illustration below) provides the settings for both Data-driven and manual Task Links. Only the Horizontal Anchor (Manual Task Links Only) control sub-group is specifically used for editing manual Task Links.

For more information on Horizontal Anchors for manual Task Links, pleases see the article at: Manual Editing of Task Links for OnePager Express for more information on Horizontal Anchors for manual Task Links.

Task Link Editing with the Chart Properties Form

The Chart Properties form’s Task Links tab with all Data-driven Task Links previously imported looks like this:

There are three (3) major control groups.

Show task Links Checkbox: The Show task links checkbox is the “Master switch" in the Task Links tab of the Chart Properties form for turning the Task Links feature ON and OFF.

Default Task-Link Formatting: This control group defines the properties of Task Links in the chart with respect to Line Style, Arrow Style, Font properties, and Horizontal and Vertical Anchors (i.e., Begin and End points on predecessor and successor tasks respectively).

Data-Driven Task Links: This control group provides controls for the import of Data-driven Task Links, controls for the Task Link Filter rules feature, and a Where Are My Links? button to access the form of the same name.

For more information on the utilization of these controls please see the article at: Data-Driven Task Link Import Rules for OnePager Express for Version 7.0

Show Task Links Master Switch

When the checkbox is unchecked or OFF, Task Links can neither be imported (Data-driven Task Links) nor created (manual Task Links) nor shown if they are already imported or created. When the checkbox is checked or ON, Data-driven Task Links can be imported and shown and manual Task Links can be created, edited, and deleted.

Default Task-Link Formatting Control Group

Line Style Sub-Group Controls

There are four (4) controls in the Line Style sub-group.

Color

The OnePager Express standard Color Chooser form is used to assist you with the selection of the global connection line color to apply to all Task Links. The Color Chooser form is shown below:

Access the Color Chooser form by clicking on the dropdown button next to the color window.

For more information on Color Palettes or to edit a Color Palette, please see the article at: Creating and Saving Color Palettes

Width

You can increase or decrease the width of the connection line using this control. The default setting is 2 pixels.

Dash Type

There are five (5) dash types available for connection lines. These five dash types are the same as used for baseline, deadline, endpoints connection lines, and borders.

The Dash Type dropdown looks like this:

As an example, a chart with Data-driven Task Links configured with the Dash dot dot Dash Type looks like this with the connection line width’s increased:

Corner Radii

You also have options when specifying Corner radius of a Task Link connection line regardless of the connection 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:

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

Arrow Style Sub-Control Group

There are four (4) controls in the Arrow Style sub-control group.

Begin and End Types

In OnePager Express there are five (5) enhanced Arrow Styles. The Arrow Style Begin Type dropdown is shown below:

The default setting for the Begin Type is None and the default setting for the End Type is Arrow. The chart illustration above shows the Arrow Begin Type.

Begin Size and End Size

You can edit the size of the Begin and End Type changing the value in the adjacent window. Begin and End Size is measured in pixels. The larger the value, the larger size of the Begin or End Type.

Cautions

You can override OnePager’s determination of Begin and End Type Arrow Styles by making your own selections in the dropdown windows shown in the above form. This is not recommended for 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 appear to violate the integrity of your source plan data.

Font Sub-Control Group

You can edit the Font properties associated with Task Links in the Font sub-control group. Clicking the Font dropdown accesses the standard OnePager Express Font properties form as shown below:

The Font properties form is used throughout OnePager Express for editing the font properties of all text elements within OnePager.

The Font Properties form, shown above, has six (6) controls. Font Dropdown: The Font Dropdown button provides a list of fonts available on your computer.

Color: The Color Dropdown button provides access to the standard OnePager Express Color Chooser form as discussed above. In this context, the Color Chooser is used to select the color globally for any text associated with either Data-driven or manual Task Link.

Size: The Size selector establishes the font size of any text globally associated with either Data-driven or manual Task Links.

B, I, U: These three buttons control the formatting of text with respect to the font displaying Bold, Italics, or Underline text.

When you complete the editing of the text with the Font properties form, click the OK button to apply the edits.

Horizontal Anchor Sub-Controls Group for Manual Task Links Only

For more information on how the Horizontal Anchor (Manual Task Links Only) sub-control group applies only to manual Task Links, please see this section in the article at: Manual Editing of Task Links for OnePager Express – Editing Manual Task Links

Vertical Anchor Sub-Control Group for All Task Links

For both manual and Data-driven 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.

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.

Bottom

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

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. The controls just below the four (4) radio buttons in the illustrations above apply to the Vertical Anchors for End points on successor task bars.

Data-Driven Task Links Control Group

The Data Driven Task Links control group in the Task Links tab of the Chart Properties form provides a means for importing Data-driven Task Links after the chart is created.

Import and Show Links

After the chart is created, but before Data-driven Task Links are imported, the checkbox within the Data-Driven Task Links control group has the label of Import and show links as shown below:

After checking the Import and show links checkbox ON and clicking either Apply or OK in the Chart Properties form, all Data-driven Task Links are imported and shown.

Show Data-Driven Task Links

Accessing the Chart Properties form’s Task Links tab after the import process is complete shows the Data-Driven Task Links control group looking like this:

With all Data-driven Task Links imported the Filter Links sub-control group’s radio buttons are enabled allowing you to Show all Data-driven Task Links or use the Task Link Filter Rules form to control which Task Links are shown or hidden.

Use Rules Radio Button

Clicking the Use Rules radio button enables the Manage Rules button that provides access to the Task Link Filter Rules form as shown here:

For more information on using Task Link Filter rules, please see the article at: Using Task Link Filtering Rules for Showing/Hiding Task Links for OnePager Express

Where Are My Links? Button

Clicking the Where Are My Links? button accesses the Where Are My Links? form that displays entries for all Task Links in the snapshot and their status with respect to being shown or hidden as illustrated below:

The Where Are My Links? form can also be used to edit the show/hide status of any Task Link entry in the form.

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 Express