One of the most common requests that I get from users of my Gantt Chart template is the ability to switch the view between daily, weekly, and monthly. The new version of the template provides a solution that is very easy to use. All you do is select the view you want from a drop-down box.
Check out the images below to see the new view-control features:
Version 2.3 for Excel 2003 (.xls)
Screenshots of the new view controls in Gantt Chart Template PRO, version 2.3 for Excel 2003 (XLS)
Version 2.3 for Excel 2010 (.xlsx)
Screenshots of the new view controls for Gantt Chart Template PRO version 2.3 for Excel 2010 (XLSX)
Note: Both files (.xls and .xlsx) will work in Excel 2007+. When using Excel 2007, 2010, or 2013, the .xls file will open in Compatibility Mode.
New Color-Coding Feature in the XLSX Version
The main thing that the XLSX version adds that is not possible to do with Excel 2003 (without adding VBA) is automated color-coding of the bars of the gantt chart.
You will see in the above screenshots that I’ve added a “Color” column where you can enter a color code to choose the color for the bar (“r” = red, “g” = green, etc.).
By using a formula in the Color column, you can automatically color code based on project lead and/or urgency. Example formulas for doing that are included in the spreadsheet.
Feedback
Please give feedback regarding this new version of Gantt Chart Template Pro. After all, feedback is what led to these new features in the first place.
Creating a Gantt Chart with Excel is Getting Even Easier,
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I used to work with some previous version products. I like its so much for studying
I d/l’d the Gantt Chart Template (*xslx) for Excel 2010 this morning, but how do I get the drop down to change it for “days” as opposed to “weeks”? Thanks!
Are you using the correct file? The one named gantt-chart_2-3-beta.xlsx? The file gantt-chart.xlsx is still the older version and does not have the drop-down box. Please email me using the email on my contact page (http://www.vertex42.com/about.html) if you need additional help – I will also need more details about the problem. Thanks.
Will I be able to use this program with MAC… I currently use Microsoft for MAC – Excel, Word etc.
Can someone advise. Thanks.
@Sophia … Yes, it works in Excel for the Mac. There is no VBA in the gantt chart templates.
I see the videos. Beautiful tool.
Some question before to buy.
How I can represent if an activity are in late in respect for the beginning plan (es. in microsoft projec I can divide an activity on the same line)
In the predecessor column, how can I do to say that an activity begins after “n” days after or before another one?
Is it possible to plan in hour insted of days, telling to the programm that one day is 8/10 hours?
Thank you in advance.
Davide
@Davide:
1) If the current date, represented by the red line is after the end date of a task that is not complete, that should tell you something. There is nothing built into the spreadsheet to show what the original end date was intended to be if you decide to change the duration or the end date. So, it doesn’t work like MS Project in that regard.
2) Use =enddate+n for the formula in the Start Date column where enddate is a reference to a cell in the End Date column for another task and n is the number of days. You can also use =WORKDAY(enddate,n) if you want to avoid including weekends. I think that is in the video and help content.
3) Not with the template as it currently is, no. But, you could add a new column and label it Hours and then use a calculation for the duration column if you wanted to enter hours rather than days. But, the gantt chart still only works based on number of days, not hours.
Very good
Is there a version for Excel 2007?
@GBowden: Yes, both the XLS and XLSX file should work in Excel 2007. I just updated the article because it was written originally when version 2.3 was still in beta.