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Symbol Maker


Milestones Professional, Milestones Simplicity and Milestones Project Companion have a built-in Symbol Maker, allowing you to create a variety of custom symbol shapes.

This article refers to version 2006.  Click for Version 2008 

   
Design custom symbols with the Symbol Maker
 

In the Symbol Maker, simply click grid points which become red dots. The sequence of dots are connected by lines which form the shape.

A preview of the symbol is shown in the right margin of the Symbol Maker as a green shape.

Then save the symbol and select it in the toolbox for use just like any other symbol.

On the toolbar, click to access the Symbol Maker.

If this icon does not exist, choose Tools | Customize | Toolbox to add it to the toolbar.

 
 
 

    Create a simple single-part symbol

 

   
A simple symbol would be a single enclosed shape like a diamond or a triangle.
   
Create the symbol
  1. Click the Symbol Maker icon .
  2. Click on the add button.
  3. Click on the grid with the left mouse button. A grid point (red dot) appears.
  4. Click again to place a second point on the grid. A line appears between the first and second points.
  5. Continue placing points on the grid until you have an enclosed figure (end by clicking on the original point, to enclose the shape).

All enclosed parts of the shape, as well as single line extensions constitute the symbol shape.

Edit the symbol
  1. Click the minus button to undo the most recent additions to the shape.
  2. To move established points, click the arrow button and then click-and-drag existing points on the grid.
  3. To edit an existing symbol, choose File | Open Embedded Symbol or Open Symbol File.

Save the symbol and exit the Symbol Maker

  1. When finished, choose one of two save options:

  2. File | Save to Symbol File to save the .SYM file to the Symbols folder. Any Milestones schedule can use this symbol. These symbols can be embedded later.

  3. File | Save as Embedded Symbol to save the symbol as a part of that schedule. Embedded symbols automatically have EMBEDDED: attached to the beginning of the symbol name, e.g. EMBEDDED:symbol1.sym.

  4. Embedded symbols are recommended if you plan to share the schedule containing the custom symbol.

  5. Name the file and Save.

  6. Choose File | Exit Symbol Maker.

Add the custom symbol to the toolbox

  1. In your toolbox double-click on a symbol which should be replaced with the user-defined symbol, such as a .SYM or .BMP file.
  2. Under User Defined Shapes, choose your symbol from the list. The list contains all .SYM and .BMP files in the Symbols folder and embedded symbols for that schedule.
  3. Optionally, choose to embed the symbol in the Milestones file.

More information

  • If your symbol is not in the list of User Defined Shapes, be sure that symbol is placed in the Symbols folder. To find this folder which contains the user-defined symbols, choose Tools | Options | Folders. Notice the path as shown next to Symbols(*). For example, the Symbols folder could be your MyDocuments folder.

  • .SYM files can be formatted with fill color, outline color, fill pattern, and other characteristics.
 
    

Create a multi-part symbol

 
A more complex symbol would be a shape with multiple enclosed shapes, such as a pinwheel comprised of four triangles.
 
Create the symbol
  1. Click the Symbol Maker icon .

  2. Click on the add button.

  3. Click on the grid with the left mouse button. A grid point (red dot) appears.

  4. Click again to place a second point on the grid. A line appears between the first and second points.

  5. Continue placing points on the grid until you have an enclosed figure (end by clicking on the original point, to enclose the first shape). For example, each of the four triangles to the right are single shapes.
  1. To begin the second shape, click once with the right mouse button at the place that you want to begin the next piece of the symbol.

  2. Next, use the left mouse button to click on grid points until this piece of the symbol is completed.

  3. Click with the right mouse button at the spot where you want to begin the next piece.

  4. Continue in this fashion until all parts of the symbol are complete.
Edit the symbol
  1. Click the minus button to undo the most recent additions to the shape.

  2. To move established points, click the arrow button and then click-and-drag existing points on the grid.

  3. To edit an existing symbol, choose File | Open Embedded Symbol or Open Symbol File.

Save the symbol and exit the Symbol Maker

  1. When finished, choose one of two save options:

    • File | Save to Symbol File to save the .SYM file to the Symbols folder. Any Milestones schedule can use this symbol. These symbols can be embedded later.

    • File | Save as Embedded Symbol to save the symbol as a part of that schedule. Embedded symbols automatically have EMBEDDED: attached to the beginning of the symbol name, e.g. EMBEDDED:symbol1.sym.

    • Embedded symbols are recommended if you plan to share the schedule containing the custom symbol.

  2. Name the file and Save.

  3. Choose File | Exit Symbol Maker.

Add the custom symbol to the toolbox

  1. In your toolbox double-click on a symbol which should be replaced with the user-defined symbol, such as a .SYM or .BMP file.

  2. Under User Defined Shapes, choose your symbol from the list. The list contains all .SYM and .BMP files in the Symbols folder and embedded symbols for that schedule.

  3. Optionally, choose to embed the symbol in the Milestones file. Embedding is recommended if you plan to share the schedule containing the custom symbol.

More information

  • If your symbol is not in the list of User Defined Shapes, be sure that symbol is placed in the Symbols folder. To find this folder which contains the user-defined symbols, choose Tools | Options | Folders. Notice the path as shown next to Symbols(*). For example, the Symbols folder could be your MyDocuments folder.

  • .SYM files can be formatted with fill color, outline color, fill pattern, and other characteristics.

  • Each symbol you design can have as many as 200 points with up to 20 different sections.
    Each section must be a complete outline, and each section must start and end at the same point. You are limited to 20 points for each section.
 
Milestones Professional Feature - Embedded custom symbols
   
Custom symbols, either ones created with the Symbol maker or bitmaps (.bmp files) can now be embedded in a schedule.  This is a great convenience when e-mailing a schedule to someone.  The example below includes several custom symbols
     
 
Free downloads
Add these symbols to your symbol library today:

 
How to add these symbols:
1     

Download this file  SymbolsMarch2007.zip  and extract the contents to your default Milestones "Symbols" folder.

2  

Double-click any symbol in your toolbox.  Under "User Defined Symbols", select the name of the symbol you want to use.  (If you want one of these symbols to appear whenever you start a new schedule, you should customize your default template.) 

 
 
Saving a Default Template
  1. Choose Save As | Standard Template on the File menu.
  2. For File Name, enter or select Default.mtp
  3. Click Save
        Now, the next time the New File icon is selected, the template settings will be used.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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