An embedded node (or embed), represented by single yellow node, is used to allow finish-to-finish (FF) and start-to-start (SS) relationships. These may coincide with activity start and finish nodes, or they may be offset (lead or lag) between the two. An embed will assume the calendar of the host activity.
Click the Start Embed icon to place a start embed or click the Finish Embed icon to place a finish embed within the desired activity. Once the cursor moves over the canvas, it changes from the Select Tool to a set of crosshairs.
Hover over the host activity to locate the desired date. Click the mouse and keep it depressed to display the offset in blue as the mouse slides along the activity bar.
Release the mouse to place the object.
Once an embed has been placed on an activity, the Embed Object window opens automatically. This window is divided into a set of three core sections: Properties and Dates, Displays, and Formatting.
If an embed is placed outside of an activity, it will be displayed in red until it is moved onto an activity. Any embed not associated with an activity will not be saved when the schedule is saved.
Properties and Dates
The Properties and Dates section is where basic settings as well as all date related fields, such as offset, are changed.
Date/Time
Adjust the date if desired. If PolyTime is enabled and the schedule time unit has been set to less than days, the time can also be chosen. Otherwise, it’ll be disabled.
Offset
When the behavior is constant, the offset for a start embed is the duration (in time units) from the embed to the host activity’s start node.
Likewise, the offset for a finish embed is the duration (time units) from the embed to the host activity’s finish node. For convenience, the value is displayed in both time and percent. Offsets stated in time are akin to lags in PDM notation.
The position of an embed may be modified by changing the date/time or the offset. To change the offset, enter a number in the field or use the arrow buttons.
Behavior
An embed may behave in one of three ways. To change an embed’s behavior, click the down arrow button and choose from the list:
A Constant start embed measures an offset as a fixed interval from the start node of the predecessor to the embed for start-to-start logic. A Constant finish embed measures an offset as a fixed interval from the finish node of the successor to the embed for finish-to-finish logic. If the host activity duration varies in any way, the embed offset remains constant, as is typical in most PDM applications.
A Proportionate start embed measures the offset as the percentage of the duration of the predecessor for start-to-start logic. A Proportionate finish embed measures the offset as the percentage of the duration of the successor for finish-to-finish logic. For start-to-start logic, it models the percent of the predecessor activity duration that must be completed for the successor to start. For finish-to-finish logic, it models the percent of the successor activity duration remaining after the predecessor completes. If the host activity duration varies in any way, the embed adjusts to maintain the same percent.
A Reverse embed is the complement of a Constant embed. For example, a start embed with reverse behavior will measure the offset from the end of the host activity instead of from the start, as is typical for a Constant embed. A finish embed with reverse behavior will measure the offset from the start node of the host activity. If the host activity duration varies in any way, the embed offset remains constant to the opposite node.
Displays
The Displays section contains aesthetic properties that have strictly on/off functionality; control is achieved via checkbox selections.
Fields
By default, only the offset is displayed. To display a field on the canvas, check the box next to the label. To turn it off, uncheck the corresponding box.
Formatting
The Formatting tab contains aesthetic properties that are not strictly on/off controls, like colors.
Color
To change a color, click the down arrow button anywhere the Color field shows up and choose from the list. Any colors already used in the schedule will appear. To choose from a palette or define a custom color, select More.
After clicking More, the Custom Color Palette window will open.
To create a custom color, click in the rainbow color area; the selected color displays below in the Color/Solid box.
To select a darker or lighter tone, move the arrow up and down along the vertical slider bar to the right.
Click the Add to Custom Colors button and the new color displays in the Custom Colors area and is ready to be selected just the same as the basic colors above.
Click OK to apply the color and exit the function.
Once chosen for the first time, any basic or custom color will be displayed in the dropdown list for future selections.
Finalizing Embedded Nodes
Once the desired selections are made, click the OK button to place the embed and close the window (if OK is pressed prior to making any changes, the fields will simply be left as default). The window can be reopened (and the properties can be modified) at any time by double-clicking on the embed on the canvas or right-clicking and selecting .
Rules for Placing Embeds
A start embed may only be placed on a predecessor activity and linked to the start of a successor activity, a finish embed, a finish milestone, or a finish benchmark. If an attempt is made to link to a start milestone or a start benchmark, a link will not be allowed as a start embed cannot be a successor object. (Note: If the start milestone or benchmark is later in time, the link will be allowed but the milestone will not snap).
A finish embed may only be placed on a successor activity and linked to the finish of a predecessor activity, a start embed, a start milestone, or a start benchmark. If an attempt is made to link to a finish milestone or a finish benchmark, a link will not be allowed as a finish embed cannot be a predecessor object. (Note: If the finish milestone or benchmark is earlier in time, the link will be allowed but the milestone will not snap).