Are you making full use of the Import Workbook Components menu item in the SLIM Suite? This handy feature can save you lots of time and effort if you don't forget it's there. Via the Import menu item, you can bring the following custom settings into your SLIM workbooks:

• entire chart and report outlines (Estimate, Metrics, Control, MasterPlan)
• colors, symbols and fonts (Estimate, Metrics, Control, MasterPlan)
• custom reference trends (Estimate, Metrics, Control)
• phase names, acronyms, and descriptions (Estimate)
• milestone names, acronyms, descriptions, and phase percentages (Estimate)
• WBS Structures and skill categories (Estimate)
• Data Set Selections (Metrics)
• Custom Metrics (Control)

The most powerful feature of the Import Workbook Components menu item is that once you set up a workbook with a set of estimation, tracking, or presentation features (for instance, you may wish to specially tailor the chart and report outline for export to PowerPoint, placing only one report per view and optimizing the color and font settings for maximum readability) you can re-use those features over and over again in any workbook. Moreover, you don't have to use your special purpose settings all the time.

For instance, for everyday working purposes you may wish to use the default QSM color and font settings. But for reporting purposes you may find that specially tailored reporting color and font settings work better. Prior to exporting to PowerPoint, save your workbook in your working directory. This preserves your original color and font settings. Now, select File | Import | Import Workbook Components from the menu. Check Colors, symbols, and fonts (replace only) and browse to the workbook containing your special purpose settings. Click OK to replace the colors and fonts in the workbook with those in the target workbook. As an added refinement, you may also wish to replace your everyday chart and report outline with a custom reporting outline from a saved template. The Import Workbook Components dialog makes this process a snap.

Complete the export to PowerPoint. When you are done, you can archive your temporary reporting workbook (in case you need to regenerate your reports) or simply delete it. The backup copy you made earlier preserves your working settings until it's time for the next report.