Print And Output

Print and output functions pass project information on as a report, PDF, Excel file, or export file.

A view can be printed when it contains the desired information.

Typical procedure:

  1. Open a suitable view.

  2. Check the header and footer.

  3. Adjust the display, columns, and timescale.

  4. Open File > Print.

  5. Check the print preview.

  6. Print, or output as PDF through a PDF printer.

Print preview

Typical Output Targets

  • paper print

  • PDF printer

  • Excel export from the active view

  • MS Project XML export

  • XML export

  • iCalendar output through Integration Server

PDF Output

A PDF printer is used for a PDF file. Prepare the view as for printing and select the PDF printer in the print dialog.

PDF printer selection

Excel Output

Views can be output to Excel. Before the export, check filters, structure, timescale, and visible columns.

Export view data to Excel

Suitable views:

  • activity views

  • resource views

  • capacity views

  • portfolio evaluations

Reports

Reports should not just export data but support a decision. Therefore, before output check:

  • target group

  • time period

  • project or portfolio

  • relevant resources

  • visible columns

  • status, baseline, or cut-off date

Configure The Print View

The print view defines how the printout of a view appears on paper. You configure it in the File > Print dialog, which combines print settings and a preview window.

Page format:

Setting

Meaning

Paper format

A4, A3, or user-defined formats.

Orientation

Portrait or landscape.

Margins

Distance from the print content to the paper edge, configurable for all four sides.

Scaling

Reduce content by percentage or scale to a specific number of pages.

Header and footer:

The header and footer can contain fixed texts as well as dynamic fields:

  • project name and project code

  • date and time of the print output

  • page number and total number of pages

  • user-defined text

Open: in the File > Print dialog; pre-set permanently via the project properties, Headers and footers tab (Start > Properties > Project), so that all printouts of this project are labelled consistently.

Adjust the timescale:

In the print dialog the printed period can be restricted:

  • only the visible period of the current view

  • a freely definable date range

  • the entire project period

Columns and display:

The printed columns correspond to the columns visible in the current view. Adjust the view before printing via the Format tab of the view (block Data > Columns, for example Bar chart Format > Data > Columns).

Print preview:

The print preview is part of the File > Print dialog and shows the result of the current settings before printing. In the same dialog you adjust the scaling (Scale area) and the print range (Pages area).

A holiday report shows the non-working days of the employees (vacation, sickness, other absences) for a period. It is created from the Personnel resource view.

Prerequisite: the non-working days must be entered for the employees in the resource pool.

Procedure:

  1. Create a project with a start and finish that define the report period (for example 01.01. to 31.12.).

  2. Open the resource view via Start > Resource views > Personnel.

  3. Structure the employee list via Start > Outline > Structure, for example Team > Personnel.

  4. Set the timescale, for example Day 1:1.

  5. Check the columns via the Format tab Personnel utilisation Format > Data > Columns.

  6. Open Start > Edit > Filter and disable the option Offer only already planned resources for selection so that all employees appear.

  7. Choose File > Print and define the print settings.

Typical use:

  • print absence overviews for team meetings or personnel planning

  • output an annual calendar for resource pool employees as a reference

  • use vacation overviews as an attachment for status or project reports

Note: absences must be maintained in the resource pool so that they appear in the holiday report. More on this: Maintain Working Times and Non-Working Days