How to Make a Gantt Chart Using Microsoft

A Gantt chart is a specific type of bar graph. Gantt charts are often used as a visual aid for projects because they show elements such as start dates, end dates and activity information. Excel is the premier Microsoft application for creating all types of charts. While Excel does not have a Gantt chart feature incorporated in its chart types, you can enter your data into Excel and manipulate another type of standard Excel graph to make a Gantt chart.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Excel, versions 2000 to 2007

Instructions

1. 

   Open a new Excel worksheet. Enter column headings into Row 1, such as "Start Date," "Amount Completed" and "Amount Remaining." Enter your data into the columns for each heading.

2. 

   Select the cells that contain data. If you are using Excel 2003 or earlier, click the "Chart Wizard" button on the "Standard" toolbar. In Excel 2007, go to the "Chart" section on the "Insert" tab. Select "Bar" as the chart type, and then select "Stacked Bar" as the subtype. Click "Finish."

3. 

   Double click the first color in the chart bars to open the "Format Data Series" dialog box. Go to the "Patterns" tab. Select "None" for both "Area" and "Border," and then click "OK."

4. 

   Double click the "Category Axis," go to the "Scale" tab and select "Categories in Reverse Order." Go to the "Font" tab and change the font size to "8." Click "OK."

5. 

   Double click the "Value Axis" and go to the "Alignment" tab. Enter "45" in the "Degrees" box. Go to the "Font" tab and select "Bold" under "Font Style" and "8" for the font size. Click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• To move the Gantt chart to a blank worksheet, right click the chart and select "Location." Select "As New Sheet in Chart 1" and click "OK."

Resources

• Excel Chart Templates