Timeline and Gantt Chart in MS Project are time-use planning charts such as timelines and Gantt charts. A timeline shows milestones in the MS project and divides tasks chronologically. However, a Gantt chart provides additional information about a specific task’s length, start, and finish times. These charts can be easily created in Microsoft Projects to help you run your projects.
Various authors argue that adopting timelines and Gantt charts can significantly enhance all phases of project planning and communication. These tools help teams scope a project, identify potential resource bottlenecks, and allocate resources properly. Measuring progress against a timeline ensures efficiency, as teams will be in a position to make the right decisions promptly.
If you want to know then read the complete article. It will be beneficial for you to enter your project details to generate a timeline and Gantt chart in MS Project. This refers to the identity of the work. The time in which the work will be done and the relationships between the tasks. When entering data, don’t worry about the timeline format as well as the Gantt chart.
This is because once that data is entered, the Gantt chart shown in MS Project will create the basic timeline as well as the Gantt chart for you. There are also special applications for charts that you can bookmark, change colors, or use other functions. With the help of these graphics, the progress as well as the status can be communicated at the project level and ensure that any project will be completed correctly.
What is the Microsoft project timeline?
The Microsoft project print timeline provides a visual representation of tasks. For large projects, this offers a straightforward way to communicate overall progress to managers and stakeholders, helping to save both time and costs. Therefore, when managing a project, it’s important to delve into the details to assess progress and identify potential risks to tasks and deadlines.
We can easily create and Print Timeline in MS Project. It is not a project management software in the conventional sense of the word, it is a tool that deals strictly with timelines for projects. You can use it to
Create timelines
A list of the tasks, a calendar to set the due date, and a timeline of the project’s completion. Click View, and then select Timeline. Right-click an errand, and afterwards click Add to Course of Events. Rehash this for each errand or achievement you need to add.
Add tasks to the timeline
Once you have added more tasks to your project, you can enter tasks which have a due date into the timeline bar above the tasks page. If your Tasks page is displayed, enter the desired date in the blank to the left of the check mark near the pertinent task before clicking Add to Timeline.
There are two ways to do this:
- Add to Timeline button Located on the Tasks page, the ‘Add to Timeline’ button is a pull-down arrow next to each task to add a task to the timeline.
- Click in the place to the left of the check box for that specific task. This selects each task. On the Assignments tab, in the Activities bunch, click Add to Timetable.
- Open Menu Snap Open Menu (… ) for the assignment that you are adding to the timetable, and afterwards, on the container that shows up, click Add to Course of events.
Manage resources
This software allows managers to assign tasks to their subordinates while tracking the availability of the given team members. In a timesheet, with genuine hours chipped away at each doled-out task.
- In Venture On the Web, on the Speedy Send off, pick Activities.
- In the Venture Community, pick the name of the undertaking in which you need to allot assets to assignments.
- In task progress, with the percentage completed on each assigned task
- In a single-entry timesheet that includes both actual hours and percentage completed on each assigned task
Track progress
View and Analyze project standards and assess communication and risk opportunities and threats.
Identify tasks that are behind schedule
If you’ve set a baseline for your project, you can see how tasks progress over time and see if their start and finish dates are slipping. You can track progress by comparing baseline and scheduled or actual start and end dates.
- On the View tab, click the arrow on the Gantt chart, then select Tracking Gantt.
- In the Data group, click the Tables arrow, and then select Variation.
Make adjustments
Update tasks and change time frames as well as allocate resources where it is needed most
How to Show Timeline and Gantt Chart in MS Project?
It is possible to show the timeline. We have developed this assignment with the help of the Gantt chart in MS Project. Currently, many tools are used to create a schedule in Excel projects among them being Excel and Microsoft projects. So, let’s see which steps we will follow to show a timeline and Gantt chart in Microsoft project.
1. In order to generate a timeline go to the View tab of MS Project and choose Timeline in the pull-down menu. A new window will be created and this is where you will be able to create project calendars as well. This feature allows us to create Gantt charts and generate PowerPoint presentations or dashboards.
2. Next, we will add tasks to the timeline in PowerPoint by going to the View tab. Select the Gantt chart and add a task. You can then drag it onto the timeline to accurately represent the project schedule. Feel free to add as many tasks as necessary.
3. We can customize the timeline’s appearance using the formatting options available. PowerPoint offers various tools to enhance our Gantt chart view, making it visually appealing and easy to understand. By using the Task tab, we can modify colours, fonts, shapes, and sizes to align with our project’s preferences.
4. Editing or updating the schedule in MS Project is straightforward. If there are any changes or delays, simply update your Gantt chart by dragging and dropping tasks or adjusting their durations directly in the timeline view. This ensures that your PowerPoint presentation remains current.
How to Show Timeline and Gantt Chart Microsoft Project Online?
First of all, you need to access your project and sign in to your Microsoft Project Online account. Go to the project you want to work with. Now open the Gantt Chart view click the View tab. In the Errand Perspectives bunch, click Gantt Outline.
Use the chart
Timeline and Gantt Chart in MS Project also give you the same list of your tasks in the form of a graphic presentation where you have Gantt bars that depict your project’s time scale. For each of the tasks identified, the Gantt bar capturing the specific task starts from the date on the top line marked as the start date and ends at the date marked as the finish date.
If you have linked tasks together, the column representing these tasks on the Gantt chart is connected with connecting lines. Known as the chart section of the Gantt Chart view, this section pulls out the details in the Gantt Chart view in a much clearer form.
Customize the Gantt Chart
Adjust the time scale Click View > Time Scale > Time Scale.
Customize timescale settings as needed (eg, number of steps, units, labels).
Change the date format Right-click the time scale and select Sales Format. Select the desired date format.
Add or Remove Columns Right-click the column header and select Insert Column or Delete Column. Select the sections you need to show.
Create a timeline
Click View > Timeline. Select the desired option to create a timeline Microsoft Office
view (for example Task Dates, Today, Custom). Customize timeline settings like date range, and format as needed.
Change colors and add text
- Create a new type of Gantt bar, such as one that shows available slow or delayed tasks.
- Add text to Gantt bars.
- Display the task names of the individual Gantt bars on the summary task bar.
- Change the height of the Gantt bars.
- Change the appearance of link lines between Gantt bars.
Export to other formats.
Click File > Export. Choose the desired export format (for example, PDF, Excel, PowerPoint). Customize the export settings as needed.
Zoom in and out
The two-time units are set by default on the Timeline and Gantt Chart in MS Project for viewing in the current model. These time units can be configured in order to show up to 3 time units and it can also be configured so that a different time unit will be shown. For instance, the enlarged image of your project tasks can be zoomed out to see the whole year and month’s work or to zoom in and get to the precise start.
How do I add a timeline to a Gantt chart in MS project task?
To display the timeline view in your MS Project file on top of the Microsoft project print the timeline on one page, go to the View tab, and then check the Show Timeline check box in the Split View button group. Enable Timeline View in MS Project.
Open your MPP project and go to the View tab on the MS Undertaking strip. From here, check the Course of Events checkbox that you can find in the Split View bunch. Microsoft Venture will add a clear course of events over your Gantt Diagram view.
- On the View tab of the MS Project ribbon, go to the Task Views button group.
- Click Tasks in the Gantt Chart view.
- Select Timeline from the Other Scenes drop-down button.
1. Customize the timeline
You can customize the appearance of the timeline by right-clicking on it and selecting Properties.
Font: Choose the font, size and style for the timeline text.
Colour: Set the colour of the timeline bar and text.
Height: Adjust the height of the timeline.
Position: Determine the position of the timeline (above or below the Gantt chart).
2. Adjust the Timescale
To change the timescale units displayed on the timeline, go to the View tab and select the Timescale drop-down arrow. Pick the ideal units from the rundown.
3. Display the Timeline View
Open your project file and go to the View tab. In the Split View group, check the Timeline checkbox
Why We Add Timeline and Gantt Chart in MS Project
Gantt charts show the project manager the range of activities that are to be accomplished within the project as well as their sequence. Gantt charts are also viewed as a technique of resource management because with its help project managers can identify how they are organizing their resources
What to do if MS Project Gantt Chart is not showing?
If MS project Gantt chart is not showing here are some essential steps that you should follow to fix it. So, let’s see how to fix some errors with a few simple steps.
1. Check View Settings
Go to the View tab in the menu and make sure the Gantt Chart is selected. If not, select it from the available scenes.
2. Reset the scene
Go to the View tab and click Reset to Default This should restore the Gantt Chart view to its default settings.
3. Adjust the time scale
Right-click the time scale at the top of the Gantt chart. Choose a configuration or make adjustments to ensure it displays correctly.
4. Expand the task list
Check if the tasks are finished. Click the plus icons next to each task to expand and view the Gantt bars.
5. Check the work duration and dates
Make sure the start and end dates of the tasks are correct. Tasks set without periods or dates may not appear correctly on the Gantt chart.
6. Check the filters
Make sure no filters are applied that are hiding some tasks. Go to the View tab, check Applied Filter, and select No Filter if necessary.
7. Inspect the bar styles
Open the Format tab, and select Bar Styles Check if the bar styles are set to display correctly.
8. Check the layer settings
Make sure all task layers are visible. If necessary, adjust the layer settings from the Format tab.
If none of these solutions resolve the issue, consider restarting MS Project or checking for updates that may fix a program-specific bug.
Can I Build a Timeline in Word File?
Yes, we can build a timeline in a word file. The SmartArt feature is found under the Insert tab. Then, in the action category, you have a few options that you can choose from. Then you just need to customize the shapes, colours, and fonts to make the visual look more like a timeline.
Open a Word document
Open Word: Find and click the Word icon on your computer.
New Document: Click on a blank document.
Landscape Orientation: Go to the Layout tab, click Orientation, and choose Landscape.
Choose your timeline style
To add a timeline graphic, click Insert, then click SmartArt. Select Actions and choose a timeline style similar to Basic Timeline. Click “OK”.
Add your entries
Customize your timeline: Use the “SmartArt Text” dialogue box to add/remove entries, move them and adjust their position. You can also add shapes using the SmartArt Design tab.
Customize the content
Organize your timeline: Type event names using smart art design, change colours, and adjust formatting using Format. If you make a mistake, use the “reset graphic”.
Save your work
Save your timeline: Click File > Save As. Choose a name and location. Save as .docx.
How to Make a Clear Timeline in MS Project
While dealing with an intricate or huge task, a spotless synopsis timetable that presents just the vital achievements or expectations of an undertaking. It might be the most effective way to impart data to non-specialized crowds. This is the way to make and design a straightforward course of events straightforwardly in MS Undertaking.
- Open your MPP project and navigate to the View tab on the MS Project ribbon.
- Here, check the Timeline box located in the Split View group.
- This action will create a blank timeline above your Gantt Chart View.
- To streamline your data and include only the essential deliverables or events in your timeline, utilize the Project’s Group function. Here’s how to do it:
- Click the small down arrow on the Task Name header in your project table.
- From the dropdown menu, select Group by and then choose Milestones.
- Microsoft Project will automatically sort your milestones, placing them at the top of the sheet for easy identification.
- With your milestones grouped, you can quickly select all of them by using Shift + Click, or choose specific ones by holding Ctrl while clicking on their respective cells. For this example, we’ll select all but two milestones from our Project spreadsheet.
- After selecting your milestones, right-click within the selection and choose Add to Timeline from the pop-up menu.
- Microsoft Project will promptly add the selected items to your timeline.
Final Thought
Numerous management tools have been developed since the Gantt chart, yet it remains the most widely used project management tool and is often considered a global standard. It stands out among its competitors, providing project managers with an effective way to create and manage project schedules over time.
Gantt charts in MS Projects are favored by project professionals due to their user-friendly nature and simplicity. This tool offers a variety of features, including the ability to visualize tasks, understand activity dependencies, manage time constraints, and track project progress against the schedule. This functionality helps project managers ensure that projects are completed according to plan.
With advancements in the tool and the addition of new features, project managers can now create more intricate schedules for larger projects with ease. This evolution has contributed to the growing respect and proficiency of project managers within the field of project management.
How do I view a Timeline in MS Project?
To open a Timeline in an MS project, navigate to the View tab then check on Timeline under the Split View button. This will show a timeline on the top of your Gantt chart, which will help visualize your timeline for your project. You can modify the parameters which include adding and/or deleting activities, and changing the scale of the timeline and the date span.
How Many Timelines Are There in MS Project?
Microsoft Project permits you to create several timelines within one look. It also allows you to envision various aspects of your work or analyze how you stand on several baselines. It also features specific working time settings, scope of tasks for every timeline, start date and end date, etc.
Can I Change Timescale in MS Project Timeline View?
Indeed, it is very simple to switch from one timescale to another within a Microsoft Project timeline view. This enables you to control the amount of information shown on the chart, and on which time interval it is based. It is possible to return to the point where the time scale was changed from, for example, days, weeks, months or even years depending on the needs of the project.