Custom Fields in Gantt Chart

[FM1]

There has been a topic on this already which was posted in newsgroup but
Im unable to find the link so apologies for that. Anyhow, I was
wondering if there is any way to add custom fields in the gantt chart.

Essentially, I have setup a traffic light system based on variance from
baseline dates (only for milestone tasks). Now I just need to display
the information on the actual gantt chart. It would be great if it could
be dynamic so the mileston colour (R, A or G) in the gantt chart could
change depending on the status that has been assigned to it.

Is there anyway to do this?

NB - I am currently looking at the software that was recommended to me
in my previous thread but it could be a while before approval comes
through. I was hopign this could be solution in the interim.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Yes you can.
Have a look at FAQ 31 at
http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm

HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[FM1]

Hi,

Yes you can.
Have a look at FAQ 31 at
http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm

HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

Hi Jan

Thank you very much for your help. That has provided a very detaile
guide on exactly what I am trying to achieve.

Just one more question, (dont want to start another thread), is ther
anyway to setup an ODBC connection from MS Project to MS Exce
Essentially, I need to extract all milestones into an excel file an
then update on weekly basis so we can have something like an audit trai
for the dates. Is there anyway to setup the ODBC connection so al
information can be updated at the click of a button?

Thanks in advance

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I'm afraid you'll better start a new thread unless somebody else replies to
this one.. I'm the true specialist caricature, I know about nothing outside
Project, for instance I don't know what an ODBC connection is :-((

Sorry!

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[John]

Hi,

Yes you can.
Have a look at FAQ 31 at
http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm

HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

Hi Jan

Thank you very much for your help. That has provided a very detailed
guide on exactly what I am trying to achieve.

Just one more question, (dont want to start another thread), is there
anyway to setup an ODBC connection from MS Project to MS Exce?
Essentially, I need to extract all milestones into an excel file and
then update on weekly basis so we can have something like an audit trail
for the dates. Is there anyway to setup the ODBC connection so all
information can be updated at the click of a button?

Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]

FM1,
Like Jan, I'm more or less a one horse person (i.e. Project only), but
perhaps I can help a little.

As far as I know Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC) connections are used
primarily for importing/exporting between databases or database to
application (e.g. Access to Project). Although Excel data can be saved
as a database its normal format is .xls.

What you want to do can be done very readily using VBA or possibly even
with some built-in functionality of Project. If you are using a version
of Project previous to Project 2007, you could try the "analyze
timescaled data in Excel" utility found on the Analysis toolbar. Export
from the Task Usage view. Since all you appear to want is snapshot data
(i.e. not timescaled), you could even use a simple export map.

If you are using Project 2007, take a look at Visual Reports found under
the Reports menu, or try an export map.

If none of the above does what you need or isn't convenient enough, then
it is fairly easy to create a VBA macro that exports exactly what you
want and even formats it in Excel, all initiated with a custom toolbar
button. There have been multiple posts in this newsgroup outlining how
to share data between Project and Excel. You could also look into fellow
MVP, Rod Gill's excellent book on Project VBA. He has multiple examples
of code that can be adopted for what you want. For more info on Rod's
book see, http://www.projectvbabook.com.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP