Open Plan 8.8 Help

Using Calculated Fields

You can use the global edit feature to place the contents of a calculated field into a user defined field where it is accessible to third-party applications.

An expression defining a calculated field can include the following elements:






Expression

Description

Constants

You can include text, date, numeric, and logical constants in a calculated field or global edit according to the following guidelines:

  • Text: Text must be enclosed in either single or double quotes.
  • Dates: Dates must be enclosed in curly brackets ({ and }) and can be expressed in any valid date format.
  • Durations: Durations must be enclosed between piping symbols (\| ) and can be expressed in any valid duration format.
  • Numerics: Numeric constants can include any positive or negative value and can appear with or without decimal places.
  • Logical values: Valid logical constants are [True] and [False].
  • Enumerated values: Values for enumerated fields (that is, fields with a limited number of valid values) must be enclosed between square brackets ([ and ]). Open Plan recognizes the following enumeration types:
Enumeration TypeDescription
ACTSActivity status
ACTTActivity type
BOOLBoolean
CRITCritical flag
CURVCurve
PROGProgress
RELTRelationship type
RESCResource class
RESTResource type
RSCLResource scheduling type
TARGTarget type

Other calculated fields

Expressions defining calculated fields can include references to previously defined calculated fields.

Note: A calculated field cannot include a reference to itself.

Mathematical operators

You can include the following mathematical operators in a calculated field or global edit expression:

  • Add (+)
  • Subtract (-)
  • Multiply (\*)
  • Divide (/)
  • Group (( ))
  • Exponentiate (^ or \*\*)

Expressions containing mathematical operators are evaluated according to the normal rules of precedence:

  • Grouping operations are performed before multiplication and division operations.
  • Multiplication and division operations are performed before addition and subtraction operations.

Logical operators

You can include the following logical operators in a calculated field or global edit expression:

  • AND
  • NOT
  • AND NOT
  • OR
  • Group (( ))

Duration operators

You can include the following duration operators in a calculated field or global edit expression:

  • Add (+)
ExpressionResult
Duration + DurationDuration
Date + DurationDate
  • Subtract (-)
<table>

ExpressionResult
Duration – DurationDuration
Date – DateDuration
Date – DurationDate
  • Divide (/)
<table>

ExpressionResult

Duration / DurationDecimal
Duration / NumberDuration

  • Multiply (\*)
<table>

ExpressionResult

Duration * NumberDuration

Field names

When including a field in an expression for a calculated field or global edit, you must enter the name of the field and not the descriptive name that is displayed in spreadsheet column headings. For example, if you want to define a calculated field expression that references the field containing early start dates, you must identify the field as ESDATE, not Early Start.

Functions

Calculated field and global edit expressions can contain a number of functions. For more information, refer to the topic "Using the Functions Dialog Box."

Relational operators

Expressions for calculated fields or global edits can include the following relational operators:

  • Equal to (=)
  • Not equal to (<>)
  • Greater than (>)
  • Greater than or equal to (>=)
  • Less than (<)
  • Less than or equal to (<=)
  • Contained in ($)

Character operators

You can include the following character operators in a calculated field or global edit expression:

  • Concatenate(+)
<table>

Sample UsageResult

"Quick" + "Brown Fox""Quick Brown Fox"

  • Contains in ($)
<table>

Sample UsageResult

"ABC" $ "123ABCDEF"TRUE

Project Level Variables

You can instruct Open Plan to use project-level data from the current project or external subproject by specifying _proj. or _subp. as a prefix to the field.

For example:

  • _proj.manager_email_address returns the email address of the project manager to the calculated field or global edit
  • _subp.project_name returns the name of the subproject to the calculated field or global edit


In addition, an expression defining a calculated field can also include the special operators used in filters.

Note: When an error is generated by Open Plan, the portion of the failed expression in the Expression field is highlighted.

To display a list of available calculated fields, click the Calculated Fields command on the Tools tab to display the Calculate Fields dialog box.

If you hover your mouse cursor over a calculated field, Open Plan displays the definition of that calculated field as a tool tip.