B&W print-out of critical path

[swell estimator]

What is the best way to print out in black & white a schedule that shows the
critical path as well as the tasks completed to-date?

The critical path default is red and I assume there's a way to change how
the CP displays, perhaps under bar formatting, but I'm hoping someone who
has figured this out through experience can tell me what works best in terms
of formatting styles for B & W. Hatch or something else that stands out well
against the formatting of the other lines?

I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to determine if a schedule
printed to Adobe PRO pdf will have readable text. I'm printing to 3' x 2'
paper and of course you can read the text on the monitor with the zoom
function, but there's no good way that I've found yet to determine if the
text will be readable after it's printed out.

So I've asked two questions now but they're both related to how the schedule
will look once printed out.

Thanks for your help in advance. Yours, Swell

 

[Jim Aksel]

Adobe will PDF in color no problem.
If you want only to show Critical and Complete work, create a filter with
two conditions:

Actual Finish Does Note Equal NA
OR
Critical equals Yes.

That hides all the remaining work that is not complete and not on the
critical path. Some use %Complete = 100, or RemainingWork=0. As you wish...

As for what shows up best in B&W: Format/Barstyles...
Select a shape and pattern that prints well on your printer in B&W. You can
actually shade it B&W on your screen to get a better idea..... no need to
force CP to red on the screen. As an idea, doing it in B&W on the screen
might get folks used to what they need to look at.

Might I suggest making the critical and non-critical tasks of different
shapes lending to easier eye catching.

--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

 

[Rod Gill]

Hi,

I recommend creating a new View called Gantt Chart - Print BW
Now format this View so it looks best using your Black and white printer.
Use the Gantt Chart wizard to format the view and select Custom options so
you can add a cross hatch format to critical tasks. The best format will
depend on your printer driver, so experiment.

When you want to print, select this View then print. Be sure to return to
the standard Gantt Chart (or any other one) to continue working.

Ditto, create a new View called Gantt Chart - Print PDF
Format this one in what ever way looks best for your needs and pdf driver.

use Tools, Organizer to copy the Views to your Global.mpt file so they are
available to all your projects.

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[swell estimator]

Jim, this was helpful thank you - I'm sure I can put it to use.

I have to have 2 schedules ready by Wed morning and my biggest problem is a
printing problem. I think I should be talking to Adobe on this and I've
contacted one non-official Acrobat user group with the question that I asked
in the 2nd part of my posted question below. Please look at that question
and if it is an Adobe question please point me in the right direction - if
you can.

I've asked this question before on this user group and one of your
associates replied that my complications ensued from the shrink to fit
feature as it compresses type to fit the page and in so doing makes the text
too small.

The thing is, I was able to successfully print (1) schedule but when I tried
to do it again with a variation of the same schedule (actually shorter as in
less months) using the same exact settings, it printed out too small. I also
have the complication that I can't tell if the schedule I'm looking at in
Acrobat Pro will print out with readable text. You can zoom in on Acrobat
and anything is readable but that doesn't have anything to do how it prints
out. Trial and error doesn't work too well because. I'm printing to 3' x 2'
paper and it costs $6 a page and the costs quickly mount up.

Thanks Jim, looking forward to your response.

 

[Jim Aksel]

In MSProject set the paper size to Custom. This is driven by your printer.
You will want 3' x 2' of course.
Adobe Acrobat will handle custom sizes, I just played with it and was able
to create a custom size of 3x2. However, I don't have a plotter to test it.

In Acrobat 8.2.1, I imported a schedule. Then File/Print Setup... Paper
size is Post Script Custom Paper Size. Then click on Properties next to the
PDF printer, pull Adobe PDF settings tab, Next to Page Size is a button
"Add.." Click that. Give this size a name, I called it 3FeetBy2Feet. You
will need to specify inches 36x24. Click Add/Modify.

You should be in business. How will it look? That is the $6 question.

--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com