User Fields

User fields represent customised extra information in SYNCHRO, that can be used for a variety of different reasons.

They are used to display information that isn’t captured within the standard SYNCHRO project or 3D attributes; and to display User Fields which may exist in imported 3D or Schedule files.

User Fields are categorised according to whether they can be assigned to Tasks, Resources or 3D Objects

·	Task User Fields can be viewed, assigned, modified, and updated via the Task Properties>User Fields panel or the Task List by adding the appropriate column using Customise Columns

·	Resource User Fields can be viewed and manipulated via the Resource Properties>User Fields panel or the Resources window by adding the appropriate column using Customise Columns

·	3D User Fields can be viewed and manipulated via the 3D Properties>User Fields panel or the 3D Objects list window by adding the appropriate column using Customise Columns

·	Resource Group User Fields can be viewed and manipulated in Resource Groups>User Fields

The panel lists all User Fields in the project including both those imported and those created in SYNCHRO

Name - a short description of the User Field. Names must be unique within the category (Task, Resource, 3D)

Type - This determines what type of data can be saved in the User Field

Ø	Integer - whole numbers - e.g. 0, 1, 2...

Ø	Number - whole or decimal numbers - e.g. 3, 5.58...

Ø	String - text

Ø	Start Date - date with the format specified in Options>General>Date Format

Ø	Boolean - TRUE or FALSE

Ø	Finish Date - date with the format specified in Options>General>Date Format

Comment - a text field for commenting on the User Field

Calculation Type - User Fields can be imported from external files, entered manually in SYNCHRO, or calculated via a Formula. The Calculation Type setting specifies whether and how the User Field should be calculated when the Calculate User Field Values command is run (in accordance with Calculate User Field Values settings)

Ø	Don't calculate - Formulas will not be applied. User field values can be updated by synchronising from an external file or by manual input

Ø	Calculate - User Field Values will be calculated according to saved Formula. Use this option when it doesn't matter what order the User Field values are calculated in for objects (Tasks, Resources, or 3D Objects). This is the most common choice for calculated User Fields.

Calculate from child to parent - User Field Values will be calculated according to saved Formula. User Fields will be calculated for all child objects (Tasks, Resources, or 3D Objects) in tree before calculating parent object values. Use this option if the Formula involves calculating values from children objects - for example, summing volume of all children objects

Calculate from parent to child - User Field Values will be calculated according to saved Formula. User Fields will be calculated for all parent objects (Tasks, Resources, or 3D Objects) in tree before calculating child object values. Use this option if the Formula involves calculating values from parent objects - for example, dividing duration value or costs among child tasks

Formula - For calculated User Fields, the Formula can viewed and edited in the Formula text box (e.g. you can copy an paste a formula into the box). For ease of editing the formula using an interactive list of available syntax, press the Formula Editor button to create or edit a Formula

Graph Values - Task based User Fields of type Number or Integer may be displayed in the User Field Graph. Check the box next to the User Field in the list panel to display it in the User Field Graph. Those that are disabled (unchecked) will be hidden in the User Field Graph.

Ø	If desired you may change the default Colour of the line in the User Field Graph for the selected User Field

Ø	The Limit graph Line option determines how the User Field will be displayed in the User Field Graph

Ø	Draw in UF Graph - When enabled, a line showing the instantaneous value of the User Field will be drawn in the User Field Graph window. This graph can be filled in by checking the box for Fill UF plot in Options>Gantt Chart>Colour>Gantt Graphs

Ø	Draw cumulative in UF Graph - When enabled, a line showing the cumulative value (increasing over time) of the User Field will be drawn in the User Field Graph window.

Ø	See Options>Gantt Chart>Colour>Gantt Graphs for more User Field Graph options including showing/hiding the summary line

The User Fields panel provides the following context menu, through which User Fields may be managed

To Add a User Field:

1.	Select Add from the context menu or press the Insert key to display the Add User Field Dialog

2.	Select the Category - this determines whether the User Field can be assigned to Tasks, Resources, or 3D Objects

3.	Select the Type

4.	Select the Calculation Type

5.	For calculated User Fields, press Edit to enter a Formula. See Formula Editor for detailed description

6.	(optional) Select a Colour - this colour will be used for Integer or Number Task User Field when displayed in the User Field Graph

7.	Press the Add button to complete the operation..

·	Removing a User Field, will display the following warning dialog:

·	Select Create Copy to duplicate the selected User Field (and all properties) for further modification

·	The Assign to Selected command will assign the selected User Fields to all selected Tasks, Resources, or 3D Objects of the corresponding type, but will not assign a Value. The values can be edited in the corresponding Properties window or table.

·	The Edit Formula command will open the Formula Editor dialog

·	The Recalculate User Field(s) Values command opens the Recalculate User Field Values dialog.

·	Copy Values to Associated Objects can be used to effectively move User Field Values between objects (say from Resources to Tasks etc)