Today Marker - can it update by the minute?

[Olias]

My project requires detailed activities over a 24 hour period.  I am using a TIMELINE to present (simplified) progress to management.

I would like to show a vertical line on the diagram to show where along a 24hour timeline we are.  Is there any way we can use the TODAY MARKER to update every 15 minutes (say) and move along a 24 hour period?

[wapperdude]

It's quite difficult to "convince" the timeline shapes to do something that they're not designed to do.  It's actually easier to make a custom shape.  And it's easier to make it than to describe how.  So, take a look at the attached.

The yellow circle will update every minute.  It could be modified to show only 15 minute updates, but, my goal was to merely give you a basic structure.

The shape contains cooridnate reference to the timeline, hardcoded.     The format of the indicated time may be changed by going to menu bar > Insert > Field > Date Format.  The yellow diamond will allow you to re-position the text.

HTH
Wapperdude

ATTENTION!!!  IMPORTANT UPDATE!  Time of update:  8:54PM, Apr 11, 2009

The Visio file has been modified such that the shape recognizes the begin / end dates.  If the current time is not within the span of the timeline, it will park the shape at either the beginning or ending points, whichever is more appropriate.   

[kohibu]

Hi, maybe a little bit late, but I will try it. Your solution could be perfect for my problem. But it is possible to take this code for a horizontal timeline shape?

Regards Holm

[wapperdude]

By popular demand  ,

Here's updated version that has both vertical and horizontal now indicator.

Note, I tweaked the horizontal timeline format to show only hours, no minutes.  Select the timeline, open shapesheet, in the User section, change th user.visIntmMask entry by deleting the "mm" from the formula.

Enjoy!
Wapperdude

[kohibu]

Hi,

thanks, works like a charm!

CU

[wapperdude]

Happy to help. 

For the record, the changes are in the shapesheet:
    Shape Transform Section:  formulas for PinX and Piny need to reference the desired timeline.  The references to the Scratch sections are altered depending upon the timeline is horizontal or vertical.

    Scratch Section:  there is one long formula that refers to the timeline to which the "Now" indicator is attached.  This is a manual change.

    User-defined Cells:  change as noted above to control the way the time is formatted.


It is probably easiest to compare the shapesheet's of the two "Now" shapes.

HTH
Wapperdude