Bracket Interval Dates Replace with Duration

[AC]

Hello,
I have a bracket interval on a timeline and would like to replace the
date range the text shape shows (based on the IntervalBegin and
IntervalEnd dates) with a duration. For example, if the interval shows
6.9.08-6.14.08, I would the text shape to show "5 days" instead of the
dates. Is that possible? If so, how can I make it work?

In addition, is it possible to delete a custom formula in the field
dialog box?

All help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Antje Crawford

[Paul Herber]

Post by AC
Hello,
I have a bracket interval on a timeline and would like to replace the
date range the text shape shows (based on the IntervalBegin and
IntervalEnd dates) with a duration. For example, if the interval shows
6.9.08-6.14.08, I would the text shape to show "5 days" instead of the
dates. Is that possible? If so, how can I make it work?

Yes, try this:
Select the shape you want to change, click it again, this will now
highlight the date interval area.
menu Window -> Show Shapesheet
scroll down the window, you will find a section called Text Fields,
this contains two fields.
Now the exact details may vary:
write down the contents of these two fields, something like
Shape.21!User.visIntervalBegin
Shape.21!User.visIntervalEnd

Scroll back to the User-defined cells section
right click on it and Insert Row
the row will be called User.7 or something, rename it to User.interval

In the value for this row enter the End formula - the Begin formula
Something like:
=Shape.21!User.visIntervalEnd - Shape.21!User.visIntervalBegin

Right-click on the background and select Values and the should display
the correct value. Right-click and go back to Formula.

Now for the important fudge factor. The timeline addon attempts to
keep the dates within the shapes correct, by identifying the shape
type it knows what data to update. Look at row User.visShapeType, it
will be set to 19, change this to, say, some silly large number.

Now close the shapesheet, with the text area selected, click the Text
Tool button and delete the date fields, now menu Insert -> Field
section User-defined cells and select Interval.
Click OK
Job done.

Now, having changed the shapetype Visio may not be able to update some
other aspect of the shape's data but it seems ok.

[AC]

Post by Paul Herber

Post by AC
Hello,
I have a bracket interval on a timeline and would like to replace the
date range the text shape shows (based on the IntervalBegin and
IntervalEnd dates) with a duration. For example, if the interval shows
6.9.08-6.14.08, I would the text shape to show "5 days" instead of the
dates. Is that possible? If so, how can I make it work?

Select the shape you want to change, click it again, this will now
highlight the date interval area.
menu Window -> Show Shapesheet
scroll down the window, you will find a section called Text Fields,
this contains two fields.
write down the contents of these two fields, something like
Shape.21!User.visIntervalBegin
Shape.21!User.visIntervalEnd
Scroll back to the User-defined cells section
right click on it and Insert Row
the row will be called User.7 or something, rename it to User.interval
In the value for this row enter the End formula - the Begin formula
=Shape.21!User.visIntervalEnd - Shape.21!User.visIntervalBegin
Right-click on the background and select Values and the should display
the correct value. Right-click and go back to Formula.
Now for the important fudge factor. The timeline addon attempts to
keep the dates within the shapes correct, by identifying the shape
type it knows what data to update. Look at row User.visShapeType, it
will be set to 19, change this to, say, some silly large number.
Now close the shapesheet, with the text area selected, click the Text
Tool button and delete the date fields, now menu Insert -> Field
section User-defined cells and select Interval.
Click OK
Job done.
Now, having changed the shapetype Visio may not be able to update some
other aspect of the shape's data but it seems ok.
--
Regards, Paul Herber, Sandrila Ltdhttp://www.electronics-packages.sandrila.co.uk/

That works. Thank you very much for the work-around.
Regards,
A. Crawford