Microsoft KB Archive/72575

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PRJ: Tips for Using Start

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Q72575

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Project for Windows, versions 1.0, 3.0
 * Microsoft Project for the Macintosh, versions 1.1, 3.0

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SUMMARY
In Microsoft Project for Windows and Macintosh versions 1.0 and 1.10, the Start1, Start2, Start3, Finish1, Finish2, Finish3, Text1, Text2, Text3, Text4, Text5, and Text6 fields are useful tools for you to customize your projects as well as to create workarounds for specific situations. Also, the Planned Start and Planned Finish fields can be used.

Project version 3.00 additionally allows you to use Start4, Start5, Finish4 and Finish5. When the fields are used in combinations, you can create customized Gantt Charts that normally may not be possible. The following are some examples of how these fields can be applied to common situations:

To show when a resource is working on a Gantt bar, do the following:


 * 1) From the Format menu, choose Palette.
 * 2) Enter &quot;Bar1&quot; in the Bar Name field.
 * 3) Enter &quot;Start1&quot; in the From field and &quot;Finish1&quot; in the To field.
 * 4) Choose a unique Sample bar.
 * 5) Choose OK.
 * 6) From the Table menu, choose Define Tables, and choose the Edit button.
 * 7) Choose a blank field name and insert Start1 and Finish1 in the first available blank field name.
 * 8) Choose OK, then choose Set.

There should now be two columns at the end of the current table called Start1 and Finish1 on the left side of the Gantt Chart. You can now enter the working dates of your resource to the Start1 and Finish1 columns and the customized bar you just created will overlay the Gantt bar. Repeat the above process if you have more resources with Start2, Finish2, Start3, and Finish3. You can track up to three resources using this method, one per Gantt bar.

To show discontiguous Gantt Bars, do the following:

You can show discontiguous Gantt bars by following the same steps outlined in the above example to setup your palette. You can then use the fields of Start1 to Finish1 to draw the discontiguous portions of the bars, and then use Start2 to Finish2 and Start3 to Finish3 to show more discontiguous Gantt Bars on the same task line. Note that this method is for printing and viewing purposes and the duration will only be calculated for your first Gantt bar.

To show multiple milestones on a Gantt bar, do the following:

To create multiple milestones, you can create a customized palette and then applying that palette to the Gantt Chart.

To put text on a Gantt bar, do the following:


 * 1) From the Format menu, choose Palette, and scroll right until you see the Top Text, Bottom Text, Left Text, and Right Text fields.
 * 2) You can now apply any task fields to your existing bars by typing the field name into the appropriate Text field. You cannot insert free form text, but must instead use one of the predefined fields (that is, Text1, Text2, Text3, Text4, Text5, and Text6 -- als- Text7 through Text10 with Project version 3.00).

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

"Q70088 Creating Multiple Milestones on a Gantt Bar in Project"