Forum Discussion
shaunav
Apr 01, 2021Copper Contributor
How to turn off notes “multiple line” message (MS Project 2013)
I use notes extensively to track comments in meeting. I only have a single string – not multiple lines of text – but I keep getting the popup “multiple lines” message. How can I turn that off? It interferes with both productivity and the flow of the meeting.
(Company just upgraded me from 2007 project to 2013; not a problem before.)
I've been using Project in various versions for over 20 years and I've never seen that message and it took me a while to figure out how to even make the message appear. The reason it appears is that at some point a user entered multiple lines of Notes field text via the Notes tab of the Task Information window. That's the only way, other than through VBA, a user can create multiple lines of text. Once those multiple lines of notes text exist for a given task, attempting to edit the notes text via the Notes field as a column in a view, will trigger the message.
The answer to your question is, you cannot enter further Notes field text via the Notes field directly, you must either convert all task Notes field text to single lines of text less than 255 characters with no carriage returns, or only enter Notes field text via the Task Information window. I suggest you do the latter as that will allow you to take full advantage of Notes field editing capabilities (i.e. font formatting, multiple lines, bulleted lists, ability to insert objects like an Excel table, text from a Word document, or images).
John
- John-projectSilver ContributorInteresting, I've never seen such a message before. Are you using a desktop version of Project 2013 or something else? How exactly do you enter text in the Notes field? Can you post a screen shot?
- shaunavCopper ContributorI’m using a desktop version of MS Project 2013. I’ve added a Notes column to the right of Resource Names in the Gantt Chart view and enter the notes there. I add to them each week when the team meets (and in between if I receive any pertinent info).
I would LOVE to get rid of this annoying popup. It only happens when the text string gets long. Any help appreciated.
- John-projectSilver Contributor
I've been using Project in various versions for over 20 years and I've never seen that message and it took me a while to figure out how to even make the message appear. The reason it appears is that at some point a user entered multiple lines of Notes field text via the Notes tab of the Task Information window. That's the only way, other than through VBA, a user can create multiple lines of text. Once those multiple lines of notes text exist for a given task, attempting to edit the notes text via the Notes field as a column in a view, will trigger the message.
The answer to your question is, you cannot enter further Notes field text via the Notes field directly, you must either convert all task Notes field text to single lines of text less than 255 characters with no carriage returns, or only enter Notes field text via the Task Information window. I suggest you do the latter as that will allow you to take full advantage of Notes field editing capabilities (i.e. font formatting, multiple lines, bulleted lists, ability to insert objects like an Excel table, text from a Word document, or images).
John
- shaunavCopper Contributor
desktop version. Just closed my laptop for 3-day weekend; will get that to you on Monday. Thanks!