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When creating documents that regularly use the same stylistic elements, you can create a default template that specifies style attributes, number schemes, master items and so forth. After you've specified these styles in your current document, select File/Save As, and choose the Template file type. Select a template called Default.aft and save it. Your saved preferences will then be applied automatically to all new files.
Instead of fussing to reconnect lines or move objects, ABC FlowCharter lets you automatically drop a shape between two existing, connected shapes. Just select a shape from a palette, then drop it onto the line between the two desired shapes. The lines among all three shapes will reconnect automatically.
Use the right mouse button to toggle between tools. When working with any of the drawing tools--such as the shape tool--if you'd like to grab and move a shape, you don't have to exit that tool to get the selector tool. Instead, just toggle with the right mouse button to get the selector tool, grab the object and
move it. Toggle back with the right mouse button to return to the shape tool.
You can easily auto align two shapes while creating a diagram. First, drag a shape from a palette over an already-placed shape. Four channel markers will appear on the placed shape's corners. Drag the new shape from one of the four channels, and ABC FlowCharter will automatically keep the new shape aligned vertically or horizontally.
Save several steps when replacing one shape with another. Just select the shape you want changed, and select another shape from a palette to replace it. With both shapes selected, choose the shape replace icon on the toolbar's far-right side. The first shape is automatically deleted and replaced by the second.
Users often don't realize that once text has been placed on a curved or straight line, it snaps to the line. So when you want to move text easily, just grab the line and drag it, and the text will move with it. To unsnap the text, just drag the mouse far enough away from the text, and it will automatically unsnap and become free-floating text.
One of ABC FlowCharter's most powerful, and inadvertently hidden, features is the user's ability to turn off the program's inherent magnetism. When two objects are near each other, the program's instinct is to connect them. However, if you want to get the objects close without connecting them, just hold down the control key as you drag the objects. The magnetic feature will cease functioning until you release the control key.
ManagePro helps you manage other people, but you can also use it to manage yourself and your projects. ManagePro's To Do List, Action List and Global Calendar can function as a PIM. Its Goal Timeline can help you organize projects. By consolidating this information, you'll be better able to track everything.
If you travel, install ManagePro on your notebook. When progress, feedback, commitment or recognition reminders pop up, handle the reminder from the road with one phone call. Edit your database when something occurs to you, then use ManagePro's ability to sync up with your desktop's database. Just select File/Utilities, and you'll see the three utilities that facilitate a mobile database.
Always remember your staff's and coworker's special occasions. Enter their birthdays, anniversaries and other notable information into ManagePro.
Use ManagePro's Notes feature (Ctrl+N or select Edit/Notes ). Don't hold back—enter everything on your mind about any entry. Your notes will come in handy later. Don't worry about losing them; you can always search the database (select Edit/Search).
Familiarize yourself with the Preferences list under the File menu. Here, you can customize ManagePro to your management and computing style. For example, if goals don't make sense for your management style, turn off the goals features by selecting Preferences/Usage Style.
You don't have to be a human resources guru to resolve resource conflicts in your Project schedule. Click the toolbar with your right mouse button and choose Resource Management. From that toolbar, click Leveling CueCards/CueCards/Back to view a leveling-strategies list and to see how resource overallocations occur and how to fix them..
Don't limit yourself when it comes time to use carefully entered project data for generating reports. To filter several project criteria simultaneously, choose Tools/More Filters/New to get to the Filter Definition box. Select Custom Filter, and after you've entered the first filter criterion and pressed Enter, go to the And/Or column, select And, and define your next criterion. Repeat to your heart's content.
Why reinvent the wheel? Click the Organizer in the More Filters dialog box to copy filters and other features to other Project files you're creating.
Sometimes you'll want to sort a project file by certain fields to generate a report. Be sure to clear the Permanently Renumber Tasks box so you don't lose your original numbering and all its links. If you *do* forget to clear this box (note: by default, this box is checked), go to Tools/Sort/Sort by/Reset/Sort to salvage your original numbering.
One of Project's most useful features is the Consolidate Projects option--but use it carefully. Either check the Attach to Source Projects box to reflect in the source file any changes made in the consolidated project, or--more importantly--clear this box to keep your original project files intact.
You've created your production schedule; now it's time to implement it. Project simplifies this task with a preformatted Weekly To-Do List Report. From the View menu, choose Reports/Assignments/Select/Weekly To-Do List. From the list box select the resources or resource group for which you want to generate a weekly report. Click OK/Print.
Few managers look forward to comparing a project's budgeted costs with its actual costs. Be prepared by saving a Baseline for your project. Go to View/More Views, then choose Task Sheet/Apply. Now go to the View menu and choose Table/Cost. The resulting table compares budgeted and actual costs for each task in your project schedule.
Frequently, the person who creates a project schedule is not empowered to implement it without someone else's consent. With Project, seeking that approval is as easy as sending e-mail. Select Project's File/Add Routing Slip. Now enter the names of the "reviewing committee." Note: This option works only with MS Mail and other MAPI-compliant e-mail packages.
Make it even easier to track your schedule by setting alarms for deadlines. The Windows 95 version of Project (Project 4.1) integrates with Microsoft Office's Schedule+, combining projects with schedules for natural integration into your daily to-do list
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