Merlin for Mac – print your project image along with your scheduling
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 10. May 2013
When using Merlin for Mac to plan your projects, and want to print your scheduling along with a project image, a company logo, or another picture which is to be repeated on every print page, please check here how to do so.
You insert the project image in the project settings and select it in the print settings. Merlin allows you to place it in 6 possible positions (as Header or Footer, in left, middle or right area), to scale it as you find appropriate, or change its opacity.
Tags: Merlin for Mac, Print, Project Page, Settings
Merlin – Do a bit of magic in Merlin reports – PART XXII
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 3. May 2013
Those of you who do project management with Merlin on your Mac and have checked our post series explaining how to create custom templates for Merlin reports, know by now…
- How to modify existing reports
- How to edit description or report template names
- How to create your own report templates
- How to localize a Merlin report template
- Further tips for localizing an xslt report template
- How to add an option in an xslt report template
- How to add an option in a python / wbl report template
- How to add a property into an existing xslt report
- How to add a property into an existing python /wbl report template
Now let’s do some magic with the reports.
- Map a status or flag information to a graphic file
- Define the size of the project image over the options
- List overdue tasks along with the next activities, in “Next Due Activities” report
- Report planned, actual and planned vs actual work per phase in a chart
- Report expected work costs per role for your resources
- Report expected work costs per resources’ group
- Report the project’s name in the Next Due Activities report
- Modify the “Milestone Trend Report” to show the WBS in the table and in the chart
- Report expected or actual resources’ work per phase
- Report resources work cost per phase
- Report cash flow for expected cost or approved budget
- Report billable costs entered on elements
- Report element costs by type
- Report issues
- Report Events
- Output Project’s WBS
- Resources Time allocation to various tasks and subtasks
- Calendar View
- Working hours distributed in time per resource and assignment
- Work Chart
- Information report with hierarchy
- Complete vs Expected Complete % Analysis
Complete vs Expected Complete % Analysis
Merlin color codes tasks automatically according to their scheduling. If they are behind schedule they are shown red. If they are in progress and in time they will be colored yellow. Tasks which are completed are green, and non yet started tasks planned on future dates are blue. Merlin also calculates the overall progress of your project and you can compare this with the time line to see how much behind, or a head you might be currently. It does not provide however a column showing the expected complete percentage or the current deviation from it. This Merlin report was implemented to output such information by project, activity group, task and/or assignment.
The code for gathering all tasks and sub tasks was first introduced in the ‘Crash Flow’ report. Please see methods contained ‘MERComplete.py’ if interested in finding out how we calculate the expected complete % (based on the expected start of the task or project and the current date). We added an option for the numbering, so you can view the # or WBS code if you like. The flags are implemented as explained here. Should you require other colors for the deviation, simply check and modify the colors for styles red, green and neutral in the Style.wbl and PrintStyle.wbl files.
Remember: The custom Merlin reports we provide as templates, can be downloaded and used for free. Furthermore, you may modify and distribute as you like and find appropriate.
An output sample:
Available options… (more…)
Tags: Customize, Deviation from expected, Expected Complete, Reports, Template
Merlin – Download, install, start for the first time
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 17. April 2013
Installing Merlin for project management on your Mac with OS X is really easy and done in 3 steps.
Step 1. You download for free the Merlin zip archive from our website.
Step 2. Locate your Downloads. As soon as download completes, your Merlin application (blue wizards’ hat) will be automatically expanded there.
Step 3. There is no step three 
You may use it right away.
To start Merlin on your Mac for the first time after download, just double click it and confirm by clicking on “Open” when your Mac (OS X GateKeeper) asks whether you are sure you want to open it.
Even though Merlin does not require a specific location on your hard disk to run, we recommend you move Merlin into the Applications folder. This will group it along with your other Mac applications, have it available for Launchpad and keeps your Downloads folder uncluttered.
You may also want to watch the described installation steps as a video (more…)
Tags: Download, Easy installation, Gatekeeper, Install, Launchpad, Start
Merlin – Do a bit of magic in Merlin reports – PART XXI
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 8. April 2013
Those of you who have checked our new post series about “Merlin report templates” know by now…
- How to modify existing reports
- How to edit description or report template names
- How to create your own report templates
- How to localize a Merlin report template
- Further tips for localizing an xslt report template
- How to add an option in an xslt report template
- How to add an option in a python / wbl report template
- How to add a property into an existing xslt report
- How to add a property into an existing python /wbl report template
Now let’s do some magic with the reports.
- Map a status or flag information to a graphic file
- Define the size of the project image over the options
- List overdue tasks along with the next activities, in “Next Due Activities” report
- Report planned, actual and planned vs actual work per phase in a chart
- Report expected work costs per role for your resources
- Report expected work costs per resources’ group
- Report the project’s name in the Next Due Activities report
- Modify the “Milestone Trend Report” to show the WBS in the table and in the chart
- Report expected or actual resources’ work per phase
- Report resources work cost per phase
- Report cash flow for expected cost or approved budget
- Report billable costs entered on elements
- Report element costs by type
- Report issues
- Report Events
- Output Project’s WBS
- Resources Time allocation to various tasks and subtasks
- Calendar View
- Working hours distributed in time per resource and assignment
- Work Chart
- Information report with hierarchy
Information report with hierarchy
Merlin contains a report template outputting notes entered on the activities of a project as a flat list. We’ve modified this existing report template to output tasks showing their hierarchy which makes easier to read.
You may check contained ‘Report.xslt’s in German and English.lproj folders to see how we iterate in project’s projects and then get their activities level by level. In the report template we’ve included a space.png which we use to indent the titles row by row according to their level.
Feel free to modify this custom report further as you require for your needs.
An output sample:
Showing information for a master project.
Or by a selected resource…
(more…)
Tags: Customize, Hierarchy, Information, Merlin report template, Reports, Template
Merlin – Combine projects
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 21. March 2013
There are various ways to combine projects into one master project.
Combine local Merlin projects – no Merlin Server involved:
If combining local projects of your local hard disk, you can select them all and drag onto Merlin‘s icon or double click them and select ‘combine’ or choose File > Combine Projects:
Combine shared Merlin Server projects:
If combining projects which are shared by Merlin Server, please proceed as shown here:
That is… you choose File > Combine Projects, add the projects and open them by “remote open”. If the new master is to be shared by the same Merlin Server, save the file first on your local disk and copy it in a second step into the ‘Projects’* folder of Merlin Server.
—-
*) Or any other folder your Merlin Server shares.
Tags: Combine, Merlin, Merlin Server
Merlin – Do a bit of magic in Merlin reports – PART XX
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 21. March 2013
Those of you who have checked our new post series about “Merlin report templates” know by now…
- How to modify existing reports
- How to edit description or report template names
- How to create your own report templates
- How to localize a Merlin report template
- Further tips for localizing an xslt report template
- How to add an option in an xslt report template
- How to add an option in a python / wbl report template
- How to add a property into an existing xslt report
- How to add a property into an existing python /wbl report template
Now let’s do some magic with the reports.
- Map a status or flag information to a graphic file
- Define the size of the project image over the options
- List overdue tasks along with the next activities, in “Next Due Activities” report
- Report planned, actual and planned vs actual work per phase in a chart
- Report expected work costs per role for your resources
- Report expected work costs per resources’ group
- Report the project’s name in the Next Due Activities report
- Modify the “Milestone Trend Report” to show the WBS in the table and in the chart
- Report expected or actual resources’ work per phase
- Report resources work cost per phase
- Report cash flow for expected cost or approved budget
- Report billable costs entered on elements
- Report element costs by type
- Report issues
- Report Events
- Output Project’s WBS
- Resources Time allocation to various tasks and subtasks
- Calendar View
- Working hours distributed in time per resource and assignment
- Work Chart
Work Chart
If you like to report expected or actual working hours per resource in a chart and/or table, this is a custom report doing so.
You may check contained ‘WorkChart.py’, “WorkChart.wbl” to see how we iterate in project’s master resources, ask for their working units, compare them with total work hours and output this information in the table. In the pie chart, working hours are forwarded and the pie chart calculates respective percentages. There are methods in the Python part gathering the x- and y-Ticks and some javascript functions drawing the graph. You may furthermore disable outputting resources’ work in the table and define the first 8 colours to be used for the pie chart.
Feel free to modify this custom report further as you require for your needs.
An output sample:
Showing expected work hours by resource.
And the report options: (more…)
Tags: Chart, Customize, Merlin report template, Reports, Resources, Template, Work
Merlin – Do a bit of magic in reports – PART XIX
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 15. March 2013
Those of you who have checked our new post series about “Merlin report templates” know by now…
- How to modify existing reports
- How to edit description or report template names
- How to create your own report templates
- How to localize a Merlin report template
- Further tips for localizing an xslt report template
- How to add an option in an xslt report template
- How to add an option in a python / wbl report template
- How to add a property into an existing xslt report
- How to add a property into an existing python /wbl report template
Now let’s do some magic with the reports.
- Map a status or flag information to a graphic file
- Define the size of the project image over the options
- List overdue tasks along with the next activities, in “Next Due Activities” report
- Report planned, actual and planned vs actual work per phase in a chart
- Report expected work costs per role for your resources
- Report expected work costs per resources’ group
- Report the project’s name in the Next Due Activities report
- Modify the “Milestone Trend Report” to show the WBS in the table and in the chart
- Report expected or actual resources’ work per phase
- Report resources work cost per phase
- Report cash flow for expected cost or approved budget
- Report billable costs entered on elements
- Report element costs by type
- Report issues
- Report Events
- Output Project’s WBS
- Resources Time allocation to various tasks and subtasks
- Calendar View
- Working hours distributed in time per resource and assignment
Working hours distributed in time per resource and assignment
If you like to report the distribution in time of expected or actual working hours per resource and assignment, this is a custom report template to use.
You may check contained ‘AssignmentDistribution.py’, “AssignmentDistribution.wbl” to see how we iterate in project’s master resources, ask for their assignments and iterate in time to show the amount of expected or actual work in the selected time interval units.
Feel free to modify this custom report further as you require for your needs.
An output sample:
Showing work hours by resource and week.
Or resources’ assignments by month (more…)
Tags: Assignment, Customize, Merlin report template, Reports, Resources, Template, Work distribution, Work hours
MERLIN – DO A BIT OF MAGIC IN REPORTS – PART XVIII
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 5. March 2013
Those of you who have checked our new post series about “Merlin report templates” know by now…
- How to modify existing reports
- How to edit description or report template names
- How to create your own report templates
- How to localize a Merlin report template
- Further tips for localizing an xslt report template
- How to add an option in an xslt report template
- How to add an option in a python / wbl report template
- How to add a property into an existing xslt report
- How to add a property into an existing python /wbl report template
Now let’s do some magic with the reports.
- Map a status or flag information to a graphic file
- Define the size of the project image over the options
- List overdue tasks along with the next activities, in “Next Due Activities” report
- Report planned, actual and planned vs actual work per phase in a chart
- Report expected work costs per role for your resources
- Report expected work costs per resources’ group
- Report the project’s name in the Next Due Activities report
- Modify the “Milestone Trend Report” to show the WBS in the table and in the chart
- Report expected or actual resources’ work per phase
- Report resources work cost per phase
- Report cash flow for expected cost or approved budget
- Report billable costs entered on elements
- Report element costs by type
- Report issues
- Report Events
- Output Project’s WBS
- Resources Time allocation to various tasks and subtasks
- Calendar View
Calendar View
If you like to report working days of your project’s scheduling and/or assigned resources, this is a custom report template to use.
You may check contained ‘CalendarView.py’, “CalendarView.wbl” to see how we iterate in project’s duration, convert dates to the desired formats and color the table on working days.
Feel free to modify this custom report further as you require for your needs.
Some output samples:
Showing project scheduling grouped by month.
Or resource’s working days grouped by week… (more…)
Tags: Calendar, Customize, Merlin report template, Reports, Template
Merlin – Do a bit of Magic in Reports – Part XVII
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 25. February 2013
Those of you who have checked our new post series about “Merlin report templates” know by now…
- How to modify existing reports
- How to edit description or report template names
- How to create your own report templates
- How to localize a Merlin report template
- Further tips for localizing an xslt report template
- How to add an option in an xslt report template
- How to add an option in a python / wbl report template
- How to add a property into an existing xslt report
- How to add a property into an existing python /wbl report template
Now let’s do some magic with the reports.
- Map a status or flag information to a graphic file
- Define the size of the project image over the options
- List overdue tasks along with the next activities, in “Next Due Activities” report
- Report planned, actual and planned vs actual work per phase in a chart
- Report expected work costs per role for your resources
- Report expected work costs per resources’ group
- Report the project’s name in the Next Due Activities report
- Modify the “Milestone Trend Report” to show the WBS in the table and in the chart
- Report expected or actual resources’ work per phase
- Report resources work cost per phase
- Report cash flow for expected cost or approved budget
- Report billable costs entered on elements
- Report element costs by type
- Report issues
- Report Events
- Output Project’s WBS
- Resources Time allocation to various tasks and subtasks
Resources Time allocation to various tasks and subtasks
If you would like to report time allocation of your resources onto tasks and subtasks of your project, this is a custom report template to use.
It lists all tasks and subtasks of your project with expected or actual work and also a distribution of work to assigned resources.
You may check contained ‘MERTimeAllocation.py’, “MERTimeAllocation.wbl” to see how we ask for all task rows with hierarchy, iterate in master resources, collect their planned or actual work to cumulate those values for activity groups, how we convert them to working days and finally output them for the report. Feel free to modify this custom report further as you require for your needs.
An output sample:
And the report options: (more…)
Tags: Customize, Merlin report template, Reports, Template, Time Allocation
Merlin – Do a bit of Magic in Reports – Part XVI
Vicky Stamatopoulou on 22. February 2013
Those of you who have checked our new post series about “Merlin report templates” know by now…
- How to modify existing reports
- How to edit description or report template names
- How to create your own report templates
- How to localize a Merlin report template
- Further tips for localizing an xslt report template
- How to add an option in an xslt report template
- How to add an option in a python / wbl report template
- How to add a property into an existing xslt report
- How to add a property into an existing python /wbl report template
Now let’s do some magic with the reports.
- Map a status or flag information to a graphic file
- Define the size of the project image over the options
- List overdue tasks along with the next activities, in “Next Due Activities” report
- Report planned, actual and planned vs actual work per phase in a chart
- Report expected work costs per role for your resources
- Report expected work costs per resources’ group
- Report the project’s name in the Next Due Activities report
- Modify the “Milestone Trend Report” to show the WBS in the table and in the chart
- Report expected or actual resources’ work per phase
- Report resources work cost per phase
- Report cash flow for expected cost or approved budget
- Report billable costs entered on elements
- Report element costs by type
- Report issues
- Report Events
- Output Project’s WBS
Output Project’s WBS
We have posted here in the past ways to display the WBS of a Merlin project.
If you prefer using a report template instead of AppleScripts, feel free to use following custom report template we present hereafter. It lists per default up to 3 levels of the WBS, ignores assignments and milestones, shows the project objective if existing and resources. Optional you may enable the view of milestones and limit the shown levels.
You may check contained ‘ProjectWBS.py’, “ProjectWBS.wbl” or “Info.plist” to see how we ask for items on the various levels, or how we iterate in their properties for the output.
Feel free to modify this custom report further as you require for your needs.
Credits for the CSS and other resources used: SlickMap CSS was created by Matt Everson of Astuteo and is licensed for free.
An output sample:
And the report options: (more…)
Tags: Customize, Merlin report template, Report, Template, WBS
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