Customizing Events in the Bar Chart

To access the customization features available for the events on the Bar Chart, select one or more events in your timeline chart. This will open the Bar, Format tab. In this tab you can choose the font, along with its size, formatting and color, amount of information to be displayed, text position, and date display. You can also customize the bar shape with its fill, outline and effects. As you select customization options, the events will automatically update with your preferences.

In this article

• Customizing the font
• Choosing content and text position
• Selecting the symbol and bar shape and fill
• Formatting the outline
• Choosing effects
• Customizing the date and time display
  

Customizing the font

To customize the event font:

1. While viewing the Bar Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Bar, Format tab.
2. In the Text group, change the font settings as desired.
   

Choosing content and text position

To select information to be displayed on events:

1. While viewing the Bar Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Bar, Format tab.
2. In the Text group, click the Show Fields button and select the information to be displayed on the event(s). All columns in the Timeline Data tab are available for selection.
   OR
   Right-click on the event and select Show Fields. All columns in the Timeline Data tab are available for selection.
   

Tip: You can edit event data in the Timeline Data tab, or by double clicking on the event or right-clicking on the event and selecting Edit Event to open the Edit dialog. Make the desired changes and click the OK button. Event data will be modified for the entire timeline file.

To choose the position of event text:

1. While viewing the Bar Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Bar, Format tab.
2. In the Text Position group, select one of the four available options: Auto, Inside, Left and Right.
   OR
   Right-click on the event and select Event Text Position, then click on one of the four available options: Automatic, Inside of Event, Right of Event or Left of Event.
   

Selecting the symbol and bar shape and fill

To change the symbol and bar shape:

1. While viewing the Bar Chart, select one or more events. This will open either the Bar, Format tab.
2. To change the bar shape, in the Shape group, click on the desired shape.
   OR
   For events with a start date but no end date, symbol options are available. To change the assigned bar to a symbol, in the Shape group, click the Milestone button and select the desired symbol.
   

To select a single color for the bar fill:

1. While viewing the Bar Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Bar, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the down arrow beside Shape Fill.
3. Choose a color from either the Theme Colors (drawn from the theme currently in use), Standard Colors, or click More Colors to choose a custom color.
   

To use a gradient for the bar fill:

1. While viewing the Bar Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Bar, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the down arrow beside Shape Fill, and select Gradient.
3. At the top of the Gradient dialog, select the two colors you wish to use.
4. Select a gradient style, then click OK.
   

Formatting the outline

To customize the shape outline:

1. While viewing the Bar Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Bar, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the down arrow beside Shape Outline.
3. Select the Color, Size and Style as desired.
   

Choosing effects

To customize the shape effects:

1. While viewing the Bar Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Bar, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the down arrow beside Shape Effects.
3. Click Bevel or Shadow and select the desired options.
   

Tip: The Bevel effect is only available on bars when the standard rectangle shape is in use. It is not available for symbol shapes.

Customizing the date and time display

To show the date and time on events:

1. While viewing the timeline chart, select the event(s) for which you want to show dates/times.
2. In the Bar, Format tab, in the Text group, click the Show Fields button.
3. Select Start and/or End. A checkmark indicates the data will be included on events.
   

Dates/Times will now be displayed on all selected events.

To customize how calendar dates are displayed in the timeline chart:

1. While viewing the timeline chart, select the Chart tab.
2. In the Date Display group, click the Date Format button.
3. Select the desired display style in the Date section of the drop down menu. A checkmark indicates the style in use.
   

Tip: You can also choose to display dates as numeric labels, relative to the time span of the date of the first event on the timeline chart. To do this, select Timeline > Date Display > Numeric Labels. A checkmark indicates Numeric Labels are in use.

To customize how time is displayed in the timeline chart:

1. While viewing the timeline chart, select the Chart tab.
2. In the Date Display group, click the Date Format button.
3. Select the desired display style in the Time section of the drop down menu.
   

Tip: If you have dates and times listed for your events but only wish to show times or vice versa, in the Date Format list in the Timeline tab, select either No Date to show only the time, or No Time to show only the date, according to your preference.

Note: For more information on customizing dates in your timeline charts, see also: Customizing Date & Time Display.