Latest News from KIDASA

                

    November 2009 - KIDASA Software -  www.kidasa.com

     


In This Issue:

Windows 7 Compatibility | Make a Clean, Simple Schedule | Tips & Tricks
 FREE 30 Minute Training Session | Milestones in Wide-Screen


 

Milestones Software is now officially Windows 7 Compatible

We are pleased to announce that our family of project management software, which includes Milestones Professional 2008, Project Companion 2008, and Simplicity 2008, has earned the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo. This will allow our customers to continue running our software just fine even as they transition to Windows 7.

 


 

Tip of the Month: Make Clean, Uncluttered Schedules

Often, a simple publication quality timeline is needed for a print or online publication. Reasons are many but might include:

 

  • A newspaper article which shows important events.
  • Key events in the evolution of a particular technology.
  • The life of a famous person.
  • A countdown to a pending event.
  • Key historical events with economic data overlaid, showing trends and how events affect the economy.

No matter what the need, if the timeline is illegible, complicated and has too much information, the reader will simply avoid looking at it. If it’s easy on the eyes, attractive and simple, the reader will naturally view it as part of the article they are reading.

 The SH 45 Project schedule and the Man on the Moon schedule below offer an excellent model:

  • Simple
  • Easy to read
  • Works well in a black and white publication

To create a schedule like this easily, follow these steps:

1. Have only one column on the left and right, with the same background color as the heading background.
 2. Set the frame color to the same color as the heading background color (Format | Frame, Highlights | Background color, border, frame corners)
3. Do the same with the Legend background (Layout | Full Legend Settings | Background Color)
4. Use a large bar connector with invisible symbols.
 
 
 

Software Tips & Tricks
Answers
 
 
Setting up a custom date format
Question:   I see on the date headings an option for FYxx.  Is there a way I can make it CYxx?  

It is easy to make the year read CYxx (or anything else) using custom date headings.

Double-click on the Date heading.

Click the "Create or Edit Custom Date Headings" button

Enter a series of Date Headings and End Dates to cover your schedule time.

Choose this Custom Date Heading from the Heading Type drop down menu for one of the
four Date Headings.

Use additional symbols for indicators
Question: How do I import more symbols for use as indicators?
The symbols available for use in the indicator columns are the symbols from the toolbox.


So, to get different indicator symbols, simply change the symbols you are not using in your toolbox to ones you want to use as indicators, and then they will be available to use as indicator symbols.

Note that the symbols on your toolbox and in the dropdown menu match each other:



 

Get rid of gridlines in your schedule
Question:  Is there any way to hide the gridline below an individual task row?

You can edit the gridlines on individual task rows by following these steps:


Right click on the top row, and choose Gridline/Shade...


Uncheck the "Show Gridlines" checkboxes.



The bottom gridline for the task row will disappear. (Don't worry about the light blue line, it disappears when printing. You can turn off these Line Guides though by unchecking View | Optional | Line Guides).

Displaying Unicode with Milestones
Question: Is it possible to make schedules using a language other than English?
Milestones supports Unicode text, so any language is possible. Also, you can customize many displayed items on your chart by going to the Format | International menu. You can change the way months, weekdays, currency, etc. are viewed this way.

Check out this sample Japanese chart, formatted accordingly:

Unicode Gantt Chart Schedule
 

Properly formatting your text for readability
Question: When I retrieve data from a Microsoft Project file, the text fields sometimes overlap, how can I fix this?
There are a few ways to move symbol text to increase readability.


Click on the symbol and change the Vertical, Horizontal, Background, and Line by Line text placement. Or you can just click the symbol and press alt + an arrow key to move the text around.


Another way to change the placement of text is to create an invisible symbol somewhere, and place text on that symbol. Then you might try creating a vertical link to another symbol, so it appears that the text block is pointing towards the right symbol.


Also, try using the Text tool (the T on the ToolBox) to add text wherever you like, (and then move it around by dragging it with the arrow tool).

November 2009 Q&A

Want More? 
Visit the KIDASA Software Knowledgebase.
 

Free 30 Minute Training Session   

Did you know that we offer a free 30 minute introductory training session twice a month? And after the first 30 minutes, the training remains very affordable!
 
What Milestones Can Do For You
Price: Free
 Twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 12PM CST. We show you examples of schedules made with our software, and explain the best methods for help on getting started, and then have a Q&A Session with an expert from our support team.

After going to the free training, check out how affordable it is to get even more training:

Fundamentals of Milestones Professional
 Price: $50/person
 Introduction to the window, the toolbox, the toolbar, and how to get started, and then we have a Q&A Session with an expert from our support team. 45 Minutes total, which includes time for some Q&A at the end		 Fundamentals of the Milestones Project Import Wizard
 Price: $50/person
 Introduction to the Project Interface, refreshing, and custom templates.. 45 Minutes, which includes time for some Q&A at the end.
Basic Training
 Price: Varies
 Learn how to build a Milestones Schedule from scratch with our basic training class.
 Milestones Professional 2008: $150 / 2 hours
Project Companion: $100 / one hour
Simplicity: $50 / one hour		 Advanced Training - Milestones Professional
Price: $250 / 3 hours
 This advanced training is based on your own personal scheduling needs, and can be modified to include whatever it is that you need to learn most about. Milestones Professional Only.
Schedule Makeover
 Price: $75/hour
 Have an upcoming presentation, and need your schedule to really shine? We can help you make your schedule more attractive for only $75/hr.		 Advanced In-person Training
 Price: $1500 + Travel/Hotel
 If your organization has many people who need to be trained, a one-day class might be the best choice. We will send one of our software experts to your location to train up to 20 users at once.

Send us an email for details: milestones@kidasa.com
 Or: Click here to order training today!

 

Order a training session today.
Learn more.
"Thank you so very much for a clear, concise, and comprehensive training session on Milestones Professional 2008.  I have used the program infrequently over the past 5-6 years, but now that I understand the full capability of the program, I fully intend to use Milestones as my primary project management tool." - Satisfied Customer

 
Have a Wide-screen Monitor? Check out this useful tip:
Did you know that the Milestones Professional Enhanced Toolbar can be easily set to appear on the left side of the screen, instead of the top? This format allows you to view your schedule at an even larger size.


Before:

After:

To make this change, simply go to Tools > Program Options > General
and check "Toolbar is on left of Schedule." Easy!

The current version of all Milestones software is version 2010.  UPGRADE NOW

 
Did you miss the last newsletter?  Here's what was included:
 
 
  • Tip of the month: Create a mini-schedule 
  • Easily add Columns with Stoplight Status Indicators
  • Import several dates for a single row on a schedule
  • Work with Microsoft Project Custom Templates.
  • Customize Summary Bars
  • Adding vertical milestone lines across all tasks.
   
 
 
 

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