Gantt chart - a tool for anyone who does not like to disrupt the timing

What is a Gantt chart

Gantt - a planning tool, task management, who invented American engineer Henry Gantt (Henry Gantt). It looks like a horizontal bar located between the two axes: a task list vertically and horizontally dates.

The diagram shows not only the problems but also their sequence. This allows about anything and do not forget to do all the time.

This handy chart

If you're a fan of Planning and love beautiful graphics, Gantt chart for you. It will also help with the launch of an online store, and in preparation for large-scale events. In a life chart is useful for self wedding planning, repair or construction of the house, travel, or prepare for the session.

For instance, freelance a Gantt chart will be sure to be able to take more of a project. A bride looking at the schedule, will not worry that nothing succeeds.

In business, the Gantt chart helps everyone. Artist knows exactly what, for what, and when to do his boss controls the timing, and the client is calm, if he sees, at what stage is the process.

Useful tool for presentation of the project. The customer or boss will see the volume and terms of works and understand why the design of the site, for example, is three months, rather than weeks.

How to start working with the Gantt chart

First we need to create a table with the source data. This can be done anywhere: at least on paper, at least once in the program to build diagrams.

For a table needs three types of data: a task name, start date and duration or projected end date of the task. Consider the timing, resources and budget of the project, to indicate a realistic end date.

For example, you have decided together to do cosmetic repairs in the bedroom. The table will look like this:

If a repairs makes working team, the timing of each task will be different.

Where and how to build a Gantt chart

There are programs that need to build a chart in several stages. And there are special tools, which is enough to press a couple of icons.

The choice of instrument depends on the scale and value of the project. If you make a chart for yourself, you can use the free judgment or trial versions of software. For large companies, working with expensive projects better suited professional programs.

1. microsoft Excel

• Price: 5199 rubles for one PC or subscription licensing from 269 rubles a month.
• Free time: 1 month.

One of the most popular programs for working with tables and charts. For multiple charting template can be used.

Microsoft Excel →

2. LibreOffice Calc

• Price: is free.

analogue MS Excel from the non-profit company The Document Foundation.

To build a Gantt chart, create a table with the source data. The three columns enter task names, date of commencement and the duration in days.

Then select a range of values ​​(highlight the column names is not necessary) and start the Chart Wizard using the corresponding icon or via the menu "Insert» → «Chart».

Select the Stacked bar chart. You will have a chart with the reverse order of tasks.

To turn the vertical axis, click on it and select "Format Axis ..." Next, on the "Scaling" click "in the return direction."

To display the date of the horizontal axis, click on it and select "Format Axis ..." In the tab "Numbers" find the required date format. Then in the tab "Zoom" uncheck "Automatically" to items "Maximum", "Minimum" and "main range".

In emerging fields put down values:

1. At least - the start date of the first task.
2. High - end date of the last task.
3. The main interval. If the short-term problem, it needs a small interval (1), to be seen on the chart were the exact start and end dates. And if the task and the project itself the long-term, it is better to choose a larger interval to schedule it has not turned out too long.

For ease of reading the tab "Signature" Y axis parameters set "Text Orientation" at 90 degrees.

To leave only the display of data on the duration, click on the color of the unnecessary lines, right-click, select "Format data series." In the tab "Area" in the drop-down menu, select "No". You get a simple Gantt chart.

LibreOffice Calc →

3. microsoft Project

• Price: from 1875 rubles per month.
• Free time: 1 month.

Specialized product for Microsoft's project management. Here are built familiar Microsoft tools such as Excel, PowerPoint and even Skype for Business. There are additional add-ons.

Suitable for medium and large companies that want to not only visualize data, but also fully manage projects, portfolios and resources.

Template charts built into the program so that you will be required a minimum of effort.

Microsoft Project →

4. OnlyOffice

• Price: from 60 rubles a month.
• Free time: 1 month.

The program for project management. Upon check available functions of CRM, mail server, document management, enterprise instant messaging and blog.

The diagram is constructed automatically after all the tasks in the project structure. Dependencies and timing can be installed directly on the chart by dragging the task. Intuitive interface, there are clues.

onlyOffice →

5. Smartsheet

• Price: from $ 14 per month.
• Free time: 1 month.

The tool is ground under the control of a joint effort. You can use project templates and repetitive tasks. There is integration with Microsoft office applications, Google and others.

Suitable for large companies with large-scale projects and freelancers who are ready to join the others' projects.

Creating a project like creating a list of tasks in the tables. You can import tables from their documents. A Gantt chart is constructed by clicking on the appropriate icon in the "Views".

Russian interface, but video instructions in English.

Smartsheet →

6. GanttPRO

• Price: free or $ 15 per month.
• Free time: unlimited for the same project.

You can create multiple workspaces and manage different project teams. Edit tasks, timelines and dependencies can be directly on the chart by dragging elements of the mouse.

There are resource management, schedule of work performers, hourly rate and the cost of projects. You can share the link, or export the chart to presentations customer.

When you create a project, the program will offer to complete a short questionnaire about your company to find a suitable template. Then you can edit the template or create your own.

GanttPRO →

7. Comindware

• Price: from 300 rubles a month.
• Free time: on request from the manager.

Comindware suitable for medium and large companies. The program allows you to manage projects, resources, business processes. Business processes can be integrated directly into the projects. It has its own corporate social network. You can import tables from files, transfer projects and tasks from MS Project.

Comindware →

8. «Google Spreadsheets»

• Price: is free.

Chart Wizard «Google Spreadsheets" will not help here. But there is a workaround - conditional formatting.

After making the initial data in the table to the right of it, place the date of the project.

Highlight the range of cells between the original data and dates. There will be constructed diagram. Click the right mouse button and select the "Conditional Formatting".

In the menu "Format cells" choose "Custom formula" and enter = AND (E $ 1 <= $ C2; E $ 1> = $ B2). E1 - is the first cell of the project dates. C2 - cell with the end of the first task. B2 - cell with the start of the first task.

The Gantt chart is ready. You can change the timing and add new tasks. Just do not forget to adjust, if necessary, the area of ​​conditional formatting.

see also

• What is GTD and how it works →
• Trellius - a new way of task management and time in Trello →
• Personal Kanban: how to learn to do the job on time →