Microsoft Visio

Things you need to know about Visio to get the most out of TimeTable

Visio vs TimeTable

TimeTable is a plug-in for Microsoft Visio. This means that TimeTable runs inside of Visio. This also means that you need to know Visio to get the most out of TimeTable. This page focuses on Visio's features and quirks, to try to minimize frustration.

Zooming in and out

Holding down the Ctrl key and using your mouse scroll wheel is probably the best way to zoom. Becase the zoom center is whereever your cursor is, it's also the best way to navigate around a page.

Panning

Zooming in and out is usually enough to not have to pan but just in case: holding down the space key while using the left click on your mouse is one way.

Visio "Shapes"

For those who are interested in the background details and how TimeTable leverages Visio tools.

The WBS Container

2 WBS Containers, 1 nested in the other

A brief history of WBS

WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) are the current standard organizational structure convention used in schedules. Before WBS was used, Activity Codes (think tags or hashtags) were prominent in the construction industry in the 20th century. The 21st century brought in a hierarchy and thus WBS was born.

WBS in TimeTable

Visio uses shapes called containers, that puts a box around other shapes. TimeTable uses containers to group WBS. In the diagram above, there are 2 containers with Phase 1 nested in Construction.

WBS Containers are locked by default, which means no tasks can be moved out or deleted from them without unlocking them first. This can be done in the Ribbon.

Activities, Tasks, & Milestones

Activities, Tasks, and Milestones are all technically the same 2D shape in Visio.

Tasks vs Activities:

Activities are imported and can't be moved in time (horizontally) Tasks are manually placed and can move freely.

Links

Links are 1D shapes that represent the relationship between tasks.