Automatically change Gannt Bar Colour

[pk1209]

Hi,
In Project 2003 I use a Shedule Project which incorporates all current
projects in minor detail. One column headed "Type" contains a drop down box
to select; UK, Europe, Internal etc to define to nature of that project.
Each Gannt bar colour is different for each type, ie, Uk is black, Europe is
yellow and so on. Currently I have to manually select these colour. If i
can, how can i automatically set the colour of the Ganny bar when the type is
selected from the drop-down. I'm not vastly over-qualified with Project
2003, so simple answers most appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

You will have to enter a formula in the number of Flag fields coreresponding
to thenumber of colors.
See FAQ 31. Customizing Gantt Bars for more details
HTH

 

[pk1209]

HI, thanks for the reply. Can you tell me where I can actually find FAQ 31.

 

[pk1209]

OK ignore that, I found the FAQ. I can follow the guide and make it work for
the resource name column, but when I try it with the "Type" column, it
doesn't work. Say I pick Europe from the Type drop-down, and my formula in
the flag column reads " IIf([Type]="Europe",Yes,No) " shouldn't that change
anything selected in the drop down as Europe to Yes? Much obliged for any
help.

 

[John]

OK ignore that, I found the FAQ. I can follow the guide and make it work for
the resource name column, but when I try it with the "Type" column, it
doesn't work. Say I pick Europe from the Type drop-down, and my formula in
the flag column reads " IIf([Type]="Europe",Yes,No) " shouldn't that change
anything selected in the drop down as Europe to Yes? Much obliged for any
help.

pk1209,
My guess is you don't see a change because there already is a built-in
field called "Type" (it defines the task type - fixed units, fixed
duration, or fixed work). Simply changing the name of the column heading
(i.e. to "Type") will not change the field name itself, so even though
you think your formula is looking at the entry in your customized "Type"
field, it is really looking at the actual Type field and that field will
never yield a "Yes" in your customized flag field.

If your value list is in Task Text1, for example, then your formula
should be:
Flag1=IIf([Text1]="Europe",Yes,No)

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[pk1209]

I did try that, but initially it didn't work, but I have now kind of got it
working, by creating a new text1 column calling it location, and using the
formula you mentioned. However, it doesn't seem to work for the top line
task, only the sub-tasks, at least for the existing projects in the sheet,
and it seems tempremental if i create a new top line task.

Thanks for your help

OK ignore that, I found the FAQ. I can follow the guide and make it work for
the resource name column, but when I try it with the "Type" column, it
doesn't work. Say I pick Europe from the Type drop-down, and my formula in
the flag column reads " IIf([Type]="Europe",Yes,No) " shouldn't that change
anything selected in the drop down as Europe to Yes? Much obliged for any
help.

pk1209,
My guess is you don't see a change because there already is a built-in
field called "Type" (it defines the task type - fixed units, fixed
duration, or fixed work). Simply changing the name of the column heading
(i.e. to "Type") will not change the field name itself, so even though
you think your formula is looking at the entry in your customized "Type"
field, it is really looking at the actual Type field and that field will
never yield a "Yes" in your customized flag field.

If your value list is in Task Text1, for example, then your formula
should be:
Flag1=IIf([Text1]="Europe",Yes,No)

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[John]

I did try that, but initially it didn't work, but I have now kind of got it
working, by creating a new text1 column calling it location, and using the
formula you mentioned. However, it doesn't seem to work for the top line
task, only the sub-tasks, at least for the existing projects in the sheet,
and it seems tempremental if i create a new top line task.

Thanks for your help

pk1209,
Remember that from a Gantt bar perspective, summary lines are separate
graphic elements. In order to have the separately colored subtask bars
show up at the summary level, you need to roll up subtask bar styles to
the summary (Project/Task Information/General tab). You might also want
to hide the task bar at the summary level.

As far as being "temperamental" when you create a new summary, if you
use the above process, it should always work.

And by the way, if you want a formula to also apply to a summary line
(although it doesn't make sense you your case), you need to check the
option to use the formula for summary rows. This option is found under
Tools/Customize/Fields.

John
Project MVP

OK ignore that, I found the FAQ. I can follow the guide and make it work
for
the resource name column, but when I try it with the "Type" column, it
doesn't work. Say I pick Europe from the Type drop-down, and my formula
in
the flag column reads " IIf([Type]="Europe",Yes,No) " shouldn't that
change
anything selected in the drop down as Europe to Yes? Much obliged for any
help.

pk1209,
My guess is you don't see a change because there already is a built-in
field called "Type" (it defines the task type - fixed units, fixed
duration, or fixed work). Simply changing the name of the column heading
(i.e. to "Type") will not change the field name itself, so even though
you think your formula is looking at the entry in your customized "Type"
field, it is really looking at the actual Type field and that field will
never yield a "Yes" in your customized flag field.

If your value list is in Task Text1, for example, then your formula
should be:
Flag1=IIf([Text1]="Europe",Yes,No)

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

:

HI, thanks for the reply. Can you tell me where I can actually find
FAQ
31.

:

Hi,

You will have to enter a formula in the number of Flag fields
coreresponding
to thenumber of colors.
See FAQ 31. Customizing Gantt Bars for more details
HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker, Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/
For FAQs: http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm
"pk1209" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
Hi,
In Project 2003 I use a Shedule Project which incorporates all
current
projects in minor detail. One column headed "Type" contains a drop
down
box
to select; UK, Europe, Internal etc to define to nature of that
project.
Each Gannt bar colour is different for each type, ie, Uk is black,
Europe
is
yellow and so on. Currently I have to manually select these
colour.
If i
can, how can i automatically set the colour of the Ganny bar when
the
type
is
selected from the drop-down. I'm not vastly over-qualified with
Project
2003, so simple answers most appreciated. Thanks.

 

[pk1209]

OK, I'll have a play with that now. Thanks a lot for your help.

Pete

I did try that, but initially it didn't work, but I have now kind of got it
working, by creating a new text1 column calling it location, and using the
formula you mentioned. However, it doesn't seem to work for the top line
task, only the sub-tasks, at least for the existing projects in the sheet,
and it seems tempremental if i create a new top line task.

Thanks for your help

pk1209,
Remember that from a Gantt bar perspective, summary lines are separate
graphic elements. In order to have the separately colored subtask bars
show up at the summary level, you need to roll up subtask bar styles to
the summary (Project/Task Information/General tab). You might also want
to hide the task bar at the summary level.

As far as being "temperamental" when you create a new summary, if you
use the above process, it should always work.

And by the way, if you want a formula to also apply to a summary line
(although it doesn't make sense you your case), you need to check the
option to use the formula for summary rows. This option is found under
Tools/Customize/Fields.

John
Project MVP

OK ignore that, I found the FAQ. I can follow the guide and make it work
for
the resource name column, but when I try it with the "Type" column, it
doesn't work. Say I pick Europe from the Type drop-down, and my formula
in
the flag column reads " IIf([Type]="Europe",Yes,No) " shouldn't that
change
anything selected in the drop down as Europe to Yes? Much obliged for any
help.

pk1209,
My guess is you don't see a change because there already is a built-in
field called "Type" (it defines the task type - fixed units, fixed
duration, or fixed work). Simply changing the name of the column heading
(i.e. to "Type") will not change the field name itself, so even though
you think your formula is looking at the entry in your customized "Type"
field, it is really looking at the actual Type field and that field will
never yield a "Yes" in your customized flag field.

If your value list is in Task Text1, for example, then your formula
should be:
Flag1=IIf([Text1]="Europe",Yes,No)

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

:

HI, thanks for the reply. Can you tell me where I can actually find
FAQ
31.

:

Hi,

You will have to enter a formula in the number of Flag fields
coreresponding
to thenumber of colors.
See FAQ 31. Customizing Gantt Bars for more details
HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker, Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/
For FAQs: http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm
"pk1209" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
Hi,
In Project 2003 I use a Shedule Project which incorporates all
current
projects in minor detail. One column headed "Type" contains a drop
down
box
to select; UK, Europe, Internal etc to define to nature of that
project.
Each Gannt bar colour is different for each type, ie, Uk is black,
Europe
is
yellow and so on. Currently I have to manually select these
colour.
If i
can, how can i automatically set the colour of the Ganny bar when
the
type
is
selected from the drop-down. I'm not vastly over-qualified with
Project
2003, so simple answers most appreciated. Thanks.

 

[John]

OK, I'll have a play with that now. Thanks a lot for your help.

Pete

Pete,
You're welcome.
John

I did try that, but initially it didn't work, but I have now kind of got
it
working, by creating a new text1 column calling it location, and using
the
formula you mentioned. However, it doesn't seem to work for the top line
task, only the sub-tasks, at least for the existing projects in the
sheet,
and it seems tempremental if i create a new top line task.

Thanks for your help

pk1209,
Remember that from a Gantt bar perspective, summary lines are separate
graphic elements. In order to have the separately colored subtask bars
show up at the summary level, you need to roll up subtask bar styles to
the summary (Project/Task Information/General tab). You might also want
to hide the task bar at the summary level.

As far as being "temperamental" when you create a new summary, if you
use the above process, it should always work.

And by the way, if you want a formula to also apply to a summary line
(although it doesn't make sense you your case), you need to check the
option to use the formula for summary rows. This option is found under
Tools/Customize/Fields.

John
Project MVP

:

OK ignore that, I found the FAQ. I can follow the guide and make it
work
for
the resource name column, but when I try it with the "Type" column,
it
doesn't work. Say I pick Europe from the Type drop-down, and my
formula
in
the flag column reads " IIf([Type]="Europe",Yes,No) " shouldn't that
change
anything selected in the drop down as Europe to Yes? Much obliged for
any
help.

pk1209,
My guess is you don't see a change because there already is a built-in
field called "Type" (it defines the task type - fixed units, fixed
duration, or fixed work). Simply changing the name of the column
heading
(i.e. to "Type") will not change the field name itself, so even though
you think your formula is looking at the entry in your customized
"Type"
field, it is really looking at the actual Type field and that field
will
never yield a "Yes" in your customized flag field.

If your value list is in Task Text1, for example, then your formula
should be:
Flag1=IIf([Text1]="Europe",Yes,No)

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

:

HI, thanks for the reply. Can you tell me where I can actually
find
FAQ
31.

:

Hi,

You will have to enter a formula in the number of Flag fields
coreresponding
to thenumber of colors.
See FAQ 31. Customizing Gantt Bars for more details
HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker, Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/
For FAQs: http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm
"pk1209" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
Hi,
In Project 2003 I use a Shedule Project which incorporates all
current
projects in minor detail. One column headed "Type" contains a
drop
down
box
to select; UK, Europe, Internal etc to define to nature of that
project.
Each Gannt bar colour is different for each type, ie, Uk is
black,
Europe
is
yellow and so on. Currently I have to manually select these
colour.
If i
can, how can i automatically set the colour of the Ganny bar
when
the
type
is
selected from the drop-down. I'm not vastly over-qualified
with
Project
2003, so simple answers most appreciated. Thanks.