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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0c
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
- Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.x, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0a
SUMMARY
You can use Microsoft Excel to create Gantt Charts showing task status for
project planning and control. This article gives an example and shows the
steps necessary to generate the charts.
Example
To use this example, follow these steps:
- Open a new worksheet in Microsoft Excel and enter the following
values:
A1: B1: START C1: DAYS D1: DAYS
A2: TASK B2: DATE C2: COMPLETED D2: REMAINING
A3: TASK-1 B3: 1/1/91 C3: 150 D3: 15
A4: TASK-2 B4: 5/1/91 C4: 21 D4: 31
A5: TASK-3 B5: 7/1/91 C5: 0 D5: 114
A6: TASK-4 B6: 10/1/91 C6: 0 D6: 4
A7: TASK-5 B7: 10/15/91 C7: 0 D7: 31
A8: TASK-6 B8: 11/1/91 C8: 0 D8: 2
- Select cell B2 and format with the month/day/year format you want
to use for the chart.
- In Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0, select cells A2:D8, point to Chart on
the Insert menu, and click As New Sheet. This starts the Chart Wizard.
In the Chart Wizard, do the following:
a. In step 1, click Next.
b. In step 2, click Bar.
c. In step 3, click the third bar chart.
d. In step 4, change First Column for Category X-Axis labels to "1",
e. In step 5, click Finish.
In Microsoft Excel 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 only, select cells A2:D8 and press
F11 to create a chart.
- In Excel 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0, click Bar on the Gallery menu, and select
the third chart type.
The third bar chart should be a stacked bar chart.
- In Excel 5.0 and 7.0, the first data series is usually blue. Select the
first series and click Selected Data Series on the Format menu (or
double-click the first series). Click the Patterns Tab and set both the
Border and Area to none.
In Excel 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0, the first data series in a chart is usually
red. Select this series and click Patterns on the Format menu. Set the
patterns for both the border and area to None.
- In Excel 5.0 and 7.0, select the Y-axis (horizontal axis) and click
Selected Axis on the Format menu, and then click the Scale tab.
If you are using Microsoft Excel for Windows or OS/2, set the minimum
to 33,200, set the maximum to 33,600, set major unit to 31, and set
minor unit to 1. If you are using Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, set
the minimum to 31,777, set the maximum to 32,120, set major unit to 31,
and set minor unit to 1.
The minimum and maximum numbers represent serial numbers for dates. The
minimum serial number should be a date somewhat near the minimum date
in column B of the original data.
In Excel 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0, select the Y-axis (horizontal axis) and
click Scale on the Format menu.
NOTE: In a bar chart the traditional X- and Y-axes are reversed;
the X-axis is vertical and the Y-axis is horizontal.
- In Excel 5.0 and 7.0, select the X-axis and click Selected Axis
on the Format menu. Click the Scale tab.
Verify that the Value Y-Axis Crosses Between Categories check box and
that the Categories in Reverse Order check box is selected.
In Excel 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0, select the X-axis (vertical axis) and
click Scale on the Format menu.
- In Excel 5.0 and 7.0, click Gridlines on the Insert menu and verify that
the Major Gridlines check box is selected for the Y-axis.
In Excel 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0, click Gridlines on the Chart menu and verify
that the Major Gridlines check box is selected for the Y-axis.
The Gantt Chart should now be displayed on the screen. Additional
formatting can be added as needed.
REFERENCES
"User's Guide," version 5.0, chapters 15, 17, 18
"User's Guide 1," version 4.0, chapter 14
"User's Guide 2," version 4.0, chapter 7
"User's Guide," version 3.0, chapters 13 and 19
"PC Magazine," Feb 26,1991, "Spreadsheets," page 410, Craig Stinson
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