Individualize Color Schemes by "Color as" Values
In the chapter "Create and edit color schemes" we describe how to highlight tasks based on given task details, e.g. tasks that belong to a job of a certain customer or tasks that are assigned to a certain resource or resource group.
But what if you'd like to highlight special aspects in your plan that are not related to given task details and hence that are not offered in the "Manage Color Schemes" dialog?
If you, e.g., want to highlight certain tasks that need a specific material or that need a special kind of treatment, you have to individualize the Color Scheme criteria. This can be achieved by the "color as" feature.
Create "color as" values
To create a "Color as" value, click in the "Color Schemes" dialog to open the "Manage Color As Values" dialog.
In this dialog you create individual new values (or delete existing ones) that can be used to highlight any task-related information/property that you would like to put particular emphasis on. Default values are
- Started
- Paused
- Finished
- Important
To create a new value, click and enter the desired name.
Select the new "color as" value within a color scheme
Now that you have created a new value, you are able to select it within the Color Schemes and make it a part of an individualized Color Scheme. To do so, you either have to add your "color as" value to an existing (and suitable) color scheme or create a new scheme. In either cases, the proceeding will be the same. In the "Manage Color Schemes" dialog, you add a new condition, set the "If"-value to ColorAs, select the just created value from the extended drop-down list and assign a color to the new created value.
Assign the "color as" value to a task
The last step of the individualization is to assign the new value to all tasks that comply with your intended criteria (here: a task needs a special Material). This assignment is done in the "Manage Task Details" dialog. The quickest way to open this dialog is by hovering on the respective task in the Gantt chart and clicking right. Then select the "Color as" value "Material" as shown below:
Apply a color scheme to the plan
Your're almost there. Now you just have to apply the name of the individualized color scheme from the "Essentials" tab in the menu ribbon |
After that all tasks that you assigned to the color as value "Material" will be highlighted in the selected color in your Gantt chart.
Feel free to extend the "Color as" value list to as many criteria as are relevant for your production schedule. As soon as you extend this list, the corresponding drop-down list in the "Manage Task Details" dialog will extend as well.
More information
Tutorial video
Blog
The "Color As" Feature: First Step From Job Shop Planning To Execution
Webinar
Watch our webinar How to achieve an easier and faster scheduling that - amongst others - explains the usage of color schemes by way of a practical case study (starting at minute 14:20).