If you're using the Microsoft Project 2013 Timeline View today, you know that there are some limitations in terms of the types of timelines you can create, and how flexible those reports are. OnePager Pro is an add-in to Microsoft Project that creates Gantt charts, project timelines, and executive summary presentations all using data from Microsoft Project, and offers much more flexibility than the default timeline view by itself.
"Even as we upgrade to Microsoft Project 2013, we still need a standard, robust way to report on our projects and portfolios. OnePager Pro continues to provide significantly more flexibility than the Project 2013 timeline view, both in terms of features, and ease-of-use."
- Sherri K., Vice President, PMO
The sample reports below compare a typical OnePager Pro chart to a basic timeline created in Project 2013. You can also read a side-by-side comparison of some of the most important features of OnePager Pro and Microsoft Project 2013 below.
Overview
|
OnePager Pro |
Microsoft Project 2013 |
Description |
OnePager Pro, by Chronicle Graphics, is a Microsoft Project add-in that creates summary-level project presentations for use with executives, clients, team members, investors, and regulators. |
The timeline view is a feature of Microsoft Project 2013 that allows users to create very simple project summaries. Users are restricted in the types of timelines they can create, and in how much they can modify the look and feel of the timelines. |
Type of application |
Microsoft Project add-in |
Component of Microsoft Project 2013 |
Basic features
|
OnePager Pro |
Microsoft Project 2013 Timeline View |
Summarize Microsoft Project schedules |
 Yes
|
Yes |
Graphics style |
 PowerPoint
|
 Visio
|
Export to PowerPoint, E-mail, PDF, etc. |
Yes |
Yes |
Schedule versioning and historical tracking |
Yes
- Create snapshots of your project at different points in time
- Browse past snapshots to see how a project has changed
|
 No
- Once the plan is updated, the timeline is overwritten and loses the previous version.
|
Filter a Microsoft Project schedule |
Yes
- Dynamic formula-based import
- 20 flag columns
- 20 number columns
- 9 additional filters (milestones, critical path, etc.)
|
 Yes - Limited
- Select tasks one at a time by hand
|
Chart templates |
Yes
- Standard templates
- Custom templates
|
No
- Templates are not supported. Timelines created in Microsoft Project 2013 will not have a standard look and feel.
|
Display additional Microsoft Project data |
Yes
- Additional data columns can be displayed on the chart.
- Track baselines, progress (percent complete), deadlines, and critical path
- Group, sort, label and color-code tasks dynamically by any Microsoft Project columnn.
-
- Map other custom dates to appear as endpoints on task bars
|
 No
- Only the basic task can be displayed. No additional detail is available.
|
Display multiple projects |
Yes
- Link projects using an integrated master schedule (IMS).
- Import several independent projects
|
Yes - Limited
- Projects must be linked in an IMS. No individual import is supported.
|
Format and Layout
|
OnePager Pro |
Microsoft Project 2013 Timeline View |
Adjust the start and finish dates of the timeline |
Yes
- Zoom to see as much or as little of the timeline as necessary.
|
No
- Fixed to the overall start and finish dates. No ability to zoom in on a detailed area.
|
Overlap tasks |
Yes
- Overlap tasks to create "ribbon" views.
- Mix overlapped tasks with waterfall tasks.
|
Yes - Limited
- Users must choose to overlap all tasks or no tasks at all. No fine-tuning of task overlap is available.
|
Text positioning |
Yes
- Position task labels anywhere on the page to make better use of space
|
No
- Task labels are wrapped inside the bar, creating an unreadable chart for tasks with a short duration but long label.
|
Choice of task and milestone shapes |
Yes
- Multiple milestone shapes available.
- Multiple task bar shapes available.
|
No
- Only one milestone shape (diamond) and one task bar shape (rectangle) is available.
|
Position milestones anywhere on the timeline |
Yes
- Milestones can be dragged up and down to be positioned anywhere on the timeline.
|
No
- Milestones are locked to the top or bottom of the chart and cannot be moved.
|
Annotate the timeline |
Yes
- Add comment boxes to highlight important tasks.
- Link tasks to show dependencies.
- Curtain off extended periods of time across the entire timeline.
|
No
- Schedules cannot be annotated in Microsoft Project.
- Users must copy charts to PowerPoint or Visio to make further edits. These changes are then lost when the timeline is updated.
|
Easily resize tasks and milestones |
Yes
- Tasks and milestones can be easily dragged and resized.
- Heights of tasks and milestones can be uniform or varied.
- Task and milestone height can be controlled dynamically with conditional formatting rules.
|
No
- Tasks and milestones are restricted to a standard size.
|
Dynamic Graphics
|
OnePager Pro |
Microsoft Project 2013 Timeline View |
Dynamic color-coding of tasks and milestones |
Yes
- Color-code tasks dynamically based on any Microsoft Project columns (e.g. color-code by phase, resource, subproject, etc.)
|
No
- All color-coding is done by hand.
|
Dynamic legend of symbols and colors |
Yes
- Generated dynamically based on Microsoft Project columns.
- Can be modified by hand.
|
No
|
Group projects and tasks into rows and swimlanes |
Yes
- Group tasks and milestones into rows and swimlanes based on Microsoft Project data (phase, subproject, resources, etc.)
- Group tasks and milestones into rows and swimlanes by hand
|
No
- Tasks can be positioned into rows, but rows cannot be labeled.
- Grouping into swimlanes not supported.
|
Conditional formatting for tasks and milestones |
Yes
- Define the color, shape, height, border and font of any task or milestone dynamically based on a set of rules.
- Use any five Microsoft Project columns to define conditional formatting rules
- Define as many conditional formatting rules as necessary (no limit)
- When your Microsoft Project plan changes, the conditional formatting rules will automatically be reapplied. Tasks and milestones that have changed will be updated in your new snapshot, while previous snapshots will retain the old formatting for historical purposes.
- Can be fine-tuned by hand as necessary.
|
No
- Formatting done by hand. Not tied to Microsoft Project data.
|
Manage complex resource assignments |
Yes
- When multiple resources are assigned to a single task in Microsoft Project, there is an option to replicate that task for each unique resource in the OnePager chart, and create several individual resource assignments for each task or milestone.
- This prevents resources from having to locate tasks for both their individual assignments and their group assignments, which can lead to confusion.
|
No
|
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Microsoft is a registered service mark of Microsoft Corporation. Product comparison made in August, 2012 between Microsoft Project 2013 and OnePager Pro v5.0. Feature comparison subject to change in future versions.
