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Setting Defaults

can be modified before objects are placed on the canvas to avoid having to modify them afterwards. For example, if you want all milestones to have a certain shape, the desired shape can be chosen ahead of time.

In addition, the duration display format can be changed from days (the default) to any other time unit larger than the schedule’s time unit (for more info, see [bookmark postid=”12362″ anchor=”units”]PolyTime/Variable Time Units[/bookmark]).

Finally, NetPoint makes use of a system for determining optimal link geometries. For a given link, each possible geometry is given point penalties based on how many grids it passes, and if it crosses over other objects or overlaps with other links. The more intersections and overlaps, the more point penalties and the higher the score. The geometry that receives the lowest possible score will be chosen when creating a link or running an automated layout. The default point penalties are intended to discourage intersection and overlap and favor shorter links. For instructions on optimizing links one-at-a-time, see [bookmark postid=”5572″ anchor=”scoring”]Optimizing Link Geometries[/bookmark].

Steps

For New Objects

  1. Click Objects > Set Default Properties for New Objects from the menu bar.
  2. Choose the desired tab. For embeds, links, shades, and text objects, click the More tab.
  3. To return to defaults, click Reset.
  4. When finished, click OK.

Duration Display Format

  1. Click Objects > Set Duration Display Format for Activities from the menu bar.
  2. In the sub-menu, choose the desired time unit.

NOTE: Only Days will calculate based on the calendar of the object. Any other time unit will calculate based on total calendar days.

Link

  1. Click Schedule > Open Layout Manager from the menu bar, click the arrow to the right of the Links tab, and choose Penalties.
  2. Use the number controls to make any changes as desired.
  3. Click Save to save the settings and close the manager.

Notes

Activities

For info on individual fields, see [bookmark postid=”11499″ anchor=”adding”]Adding/Modifying Activities[/bookmark].

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Milestones

For info on individual fields, see [bookmark postid=”11620″ anchor=”adding”]Adding/Modifying Milestones/Benchmarks[/bookmark].

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Benchmarks

For info on individual fields, see [bookmark postid=”11620″ anchor=”adding”]Adding/Modifying Milestones/Benchmarks[/bookmark].

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More

In the Embeds section, each property can be set separately for start and finish embeds. To apply one set of selections to both types, click Copy to Other Type. For info on individual fields, see [bookmark postid=”5570″ anchor=”embedded”]Using Embeds to Create SS and FF Links[/bookmark], [bookmark postid=”5568″ anchor=”link”]Creating FS Links[/bookmark], and [bookmark postid=”917″ anchor=”objects”]Annotations/Markup Tools[/bookmark].

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Penalties

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Field Definition
Crosses an activity If a link crosses an activity. Default is equal to 25 points.
Crosses another link If a link crosses another link. Default is equal to 5 points.
Contains a H leg > 50% of gap If the horizontal segment of a link has a gap greater than 50% of its duration. Default is equal to 5 points.
Contains a D leg > 50% of gap If the diagonal segment of a link has a gap greater than 50% of its duration. Default is equal to 5 points.
V or D leg crosses a grid, excluding intermediate grids If the vertical or diagonal segment of a link crosses a gridline, excluding “intermediate” grids (empty grids with no objects that are added to increase spacing). Default is equal to 2 points.
Opposing H, V, or D legs overlap If any segment of a link overlaps with any segment of another link that’s going in the opposite direction. Default is equal to 10 points.
Coinciding H, V, or D legs overlap If any segment of a link overlaps with any segment of another link that’s going in the same direction. Default is equal to 2 points.
Scores
Term Definition
Link Score The link score for a given geometry is equal to the sum of all its penalties. For example, if a link crosses one activity and two other links, its default score would be equal to 35 (25 penalty points for crossing the activity and 5 penalty points for crossing each link).
Sum Link Score The sum link score is equal to the sum of the link scores for all links in the network.
Net Sum Link Score The net sum link score is equal to the sum of the link scores for all links in the network excluding links between swim lanes if present
Mean Link Score The mean link score is equal to the sum of the link scores for all links divided by the number of links in the network.
Activity Score The activity score is equal to the sum of the link scores for every valid (not redundant) link connected to that activity divided by the number of links connected to that activity
Mean Activity Score The mean activity score is equal to the sum of the activity scores for all activities in the network divided by the number of activities in the network.
Layout Score The layout score is a measure of layout optimization. The lower the score, the tidier the layout relative to link/activity crossings, link overlays, and link length in terms of number of grid crossings. The layout score is equal to the sum link score plus additional point penalties for any of the following:

  • Activity/activity overlap: 50 points
  • Activity/link overlap (H leg): 25 points
  • Activity/milestone/benchmark overlap: 25 point