You Can Create a Gantt Chart With This Excel Template

No Expensive Software or Excel Expertise Needed

What is a Gantt Chart? Gantt charts are a valuable project planning tool that visually show the timing and length of project tasks using bars. To create a Gantt chart using this Excel template, all you have to do is input your start dates and end dates. The bars are automatically drawn for you.

Example of the Gantt Chart template - compatible with both PC and Mac.

This template is just one of the tools in QI Macros Add-in for Excel

QI Macros adds a new tab on Excel's menu. To open the Gantt Chart template, just click on QI Macros, then Planning Tools, then Gantt Chart. A template with two options will open.

Gantt Chart Template Instructions

1. Input the start date in cell C4. This populates the start date for Phase 1:Task 1 and the label for the first bar.
2. Input the "Days Grouped" in C5. Days grouped defines the # of days represented by each column.
3. Identify major project phases.
4. Identify the tasks under each phase.
5. For each task, input the number of hours required and the start and end dates.
   You can type values into the cells or save time by using some of the templates built in formulas.
   • Task 1: Input the start date. There are two ways to input end dates:
     • Update the existing formula in the cell which equals the start date plus a # of days (i.e. E12 + 3)
     • Type a date over the formula
   • Subsequent Tasks: Start date is set to equal the end date for the previous task. This formula can be overridden by inputting a date into the cell.
6. For each phase, the values are calculated from the tasks. These can be overridden if desired.
7. Input the % complete. The template will shade part of the cell to indicate the %.

To expand the Gantt Chart Template:

• Add tasks: select the row labeled "Add, insert, or delete more tasks he re" then insert a row. This will properly update the summary formulas for the phase.
• Add phases: just type into the cells below the example
• Add rows to the bottom of the table: select the last row, then select and drag down the black box that appears.
  

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Percent Complete Gantt Chart Template

 

Just input task descriptions, start dates and total days vs days completed. The percent completed bars are automatically drawn.

To Edit the Horizontal Axis of the Gantt Bar Chart

1. Click the horizontal axis, so there is a box around it:



2. Double-click to open the Format Axis window. Select "Fixed" and type the desired date into the box on the right.



3. Select "Close." It will update the chart and format the "Minimum" to a value representative of the date:
   

Learn More ...

Use Conditional Formatting to change the color of the bars on a Gantt Chart

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