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.

The post Merlin for Mac – print your project image along with your scheduling appeared first on MacPM.

• 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…

Installation:

• Extract the zip first
• place the contained mrept package under the following path of your mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Merlin/Reports
• (in case you have no “Reports” folder please create it first and pay attention to name it exactly as “Reports”)
• restart your Merlin and
• call File > New Report… to find the new report called “Complete vs Expected Complete % Analysis”.

The post Merlin – Do a bit of magic in Merlin reports – PART XXII appeared first on MacPM.

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:

The post Merlin – Download, install, start for the first time appeared first on MacPM.

Updating instructions for Merlin for Mac or Merlin Server…

New Features in Merlin

• Both, Merlin and Merlin Server are distributed from now on in a zipp’ed archive.
• The classic report offers now an option to show a project column. By default the switch is off.

Resolved Issues in Merlin

• Merlin Server would not always update the project’s objective in the projects list.
• Very long projects (25+ years) were not displayed in Merlin Web.
• The exclusive access lock icon would not show up when editing remote projects in 10.8.
• In some rare cases the master project could not be modified once saved.
• The sorting of the WBS was not always correct.
• In some cases, iPhone or Web publishing would not start.
• Under some special access permissions, project saving would fail.
• CVS import did not work properly.
• An issue with the code signing & certification is fixed.
• Fixed some translation issues and typos.
• The German and English help files are updated.

UPDATE: 

Some users reported download issues or incomplete application package after automatic update. In those cases please download the update manually and use following alternative link instead:

http://merlin-us-mirror.s3.amazonaws.com/Merlin2.zip

The post Merlin 2.9.1 update available appeared first on MacPM.

• 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…

Installation:

• Extract the zip first
• place the contained mrept package under the following path of your mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Merlin/Reports
• (in case you have no “Reports” folder please create it first and pay attention to name it exactly as “Reports”)
• restart your Merlin and
• call File > New Report… to find the new report called “Information Report (Hierarchy)”.

The post Merlin – Do a bit of magic in Merlin reports – PART XXI appeared first on MacPM.

Merlin 2 Network Bundle

Purchase Merlin 2 Network Bundle to leverage the power of the leading professional project management software for Mac OS X, share your projects and maximize project management across a network.

Price: 999.- Euro / 1.299,00 USD / 899,00 GBP (plus VAT)
Period of sale/offer: 30th March – 31st May 2013
Offer: five Merlin 2 licenses and one Merlin server license
Buy now: http://projectwizards.net/bundle

Merlin is intuitive, easy to use and offers a variety of options to help you plan, take control, collaborate and complete your project successfully.

With adding the Merlin Server you’ll get the ultimate network landscape for enabling professional project management.
Thanks to Merlin Server you can now administer all your projects in one place. Simply start up Merlin Server and select your project folder.
Say goodbye to data chaos as all project files are now fully centralized. Let Merlin Server share the projects you create with a Merlin Mac OS X application.

Regardless of the number of projects, Merlin Server offers following three built-in network services that can be individually activated with a single mouse click.
Services:
- Publishing Merlin for Mac OS X
- Publishing Merlin to Web Browsers *
- Publish to Merlin iPhone/iPad

* This means Windows users not having Merlin can easily access and work on Merlin projects! 

The post Limited time offer – Merlin 2 Network Bundle appeared first on MacPM.

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.

The post Merlin – Combine projects appeared first on MacPM.

• 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:

Installation:

• Extract the zip first
• place the contained mrept package under the following path of your mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Merlin/Reports
• (in case you have no “Reports” folder please create it first and pay attention to name it exactly as “Reports”)
• restart your Merlin and
• call File > New Report… to find the new report called “Work Chart”.

The post Merlin – Do a bit of magic in Merlin reports – PART XX appeared first on MacPM.

• 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

And the report options:

Installation:

• Extract the zip first
• place the contained mrept package under the following path of your mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Merlin/Reports
• (in case you have no “Reports” folder please create it first and pay attention to name it exactly as “Reports”)
• restart your Merlin and
• call File > New Report… to find the new report called “Working hours distribution”.

The post Merlin – Do a bit of magic in reports – PART XIX appeared first on MacPM.

• 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…

And the report options:

Installation:

• Extract the zip first
• place the contained mrept package under the following path of your mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Merlin/Reports
• (in case you have no “Reports” folder please create it first and pay attention to name it exactly as “Reports”)
• restart your Merlin and
• call File > New Report… to find the new report called “Calendar View”.

The post MERLIN – DO A BIT OF MAGIC IN REPORTS – PART XVIII appeared first on MacPM.