Setting Up Groupings

Now, let's turn our attention to groupings. While filtering makes specific project information visible while hiding irrelevant data, groupings cluster information without regards to their hierarchy in the project timeline. This allows you to easily view all information at once without browsing the whole project plan. Especially in bigger and more complex projects, the usage of groups is beneficial.

If you have read the sub-chapter on how to set up filters, you can easily skip the instructions below. Setting up groupings is done exactly like you've experienced it with filters.

1. Click on the bar chart icon to open the Groupings Inspector. It is the second icon located on the right side of the Function Bar. Here you can view all built-in groupings and add new ones through the plus symbol in the bottom-left corner of the Inspector window.

2. Activate a grouping by checking the box next to it in the Inspector. Your project's contents will automatically be sorted and highlighted according to the active grouping.

3. Customize active groupings by clicking on the magnifying glass icon next to a grouping. This opens a dialog where you can view and adjust the grouping conditions.

You control the display of grouped results with these three options:

• Without activity hierarchy

• Flatten activity hierarchy

• Include activity hierarchy

Further conditions can be added or removed by clicking the "+" or "-" icons.

---

Custom Groupings

Merlin Project also allows you to create custom groupings tailored to your project's unique requirements. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the "+" sign under the list of groupings to add your custom grouping.

2. The category "Custom" will appear automatically, differentiating your self-created grouping from the built-in ones.

3. Give your custom grouping a clear and descriptive name to aid in future use.

4. Click on the magnifying glass icon to define conditions for your grouping. Utilize the options in the drop-down menus to tailor the grouping conditions to your specific needs.

5. Select which elements shall be grouped in the "Group" drop-down menu.

6. Manage the grouping's graphical display with the three provided options to show hierarchy.

7. You can delete custom groupings by selecting a grouping and pressing the delete key.

If you want to you have access to further grouping options by clicking on the ellipsis icon. These options include:

• Reset...: Revert recent changes made to the filter (Active only for built-in grouping)

• Activate/Deactivate grouping: Turn on/off an active grouping, equivalent to checking/unchecking it.

• Cut: Remove the selected grouping (Active only for custom groupings)

• Copy: Duplicate the selected grouping.

• Paste: Insert a previously copied grouping.

• Delete: Permanently remove a grouping (Active only for custom groupings)

• Duplicate: Create a copy of an existing grouping (Active only for shared and changed filters)

• Share with Other Local Projects: Make the grouping available in all local projects on your Mac.

• Publish Changes: When sharing groupings, publish changes for all local projects.

Now that you've learned how to group and organize your project data effectively, let's move on to the next section, where we'll explore how to create reports and export them to meet your project management needs.

Back to Overview

Next Step

---

Do you have questions or want to connect with us on social media? Then click on the buttons below.

• E-mail
• Linkedin