Set Relative Due Dates on a Project Map Template
Andrew Wilcox recently posted a entry on his blog asking readers What is the missing link for MindManager? The killer add in you really want!. Johan posted a request for a project template with variable dates using a training engagement as an example:
A : close the list with participant :x – 12
B : make syllaby with names participants x- 10
C : confirm participants and give them iternary x -7
D : workshop : x
E : demand feedback x+2
This need has come up a few times in the context of enhancing Mark Task Complete by allowing it to recycle full projects instead of just tasks. While that is a bit challenging, doing the above from a fresh template is much more do-able as a Saturday morning crossword puzzle problem.
The easiest way to implement this was to use Johan’s syntax X-2, X+10 as a task category for the desired topics. The X should be capitalized and there should be no spaces (e.g. use “X+2” not “x + 2”). You can do these markups using the MindReader m tag:
and then either save this map as a template or use “save as” from master map to create particular projects maps.
For a particular project, you would then run the new “ao_set_relative_date.mmbas” macro and enter the reference “X” date:
which yields:
.
The “next action” on this would probably be to have a syntax for setting start dates as well as a way to avoid false positives on categories that happen to have a capital X in them. You need to save the macro into a file from the wiki for now as it hasn’t been rolled in to Setup program yet.
Entries 
ActivityOwner said,
April 18, 2009 @ 8:47 am
This method actually could be used to recycle projects (or delay them) as long as the relative coding is left in place. Perhaps the macro could optionally un-mark things done?
Syntax suggestions? We could use “S” for start date but that would likely lead to false positives.
gmmazza said,
April 20, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
I been waiting for this for years. I organize a series of events in the year all with the same format, and everytime I needed to change the dates by hand. I will use it in the weeks to come, and let you know. Thanks AO!
ActivityOwner said,
April 26, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
Note that this macro has been updated now to allow for start dates and due dates to be set. The syntax has changed slightly as now you must set due dates with D+ or D- and start dates with S+ or S-. Dates that are the same as the reference date should be set with S+0 or D+0. The tool also prompts you as to whether you want to remove the codes after it is done:
See wiki page for more information:
http://wiki.activityowner.com/index.php?title=Relative_Project_Dates