XL: Visual Basic Module to Create Gantt Chart

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can create Gantt Charts that show task status for project planning and control. The example in this article shows the steps necessary to generate this type of charts using a Visual Basic, Applications Edition, procedure.

MORE INFORMATION

The following Visual Basic macro creates a Gantt Chart.

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Sub gantt_chart()
    Dim rge As Variant
    Dim mn As Variant
    Dim shtname As Variant
    'defines the variables
         rge = Selection.Address()
        'get the cell address
        mn = Selection.Offset(1, 1)
        'return the min value for the scale
        Title = InputBox("Please enter the title")
        'Asks the user for title
        shtname = ActiveSheet.Name
        'retains the name of current sheet
        Application.ScreenUpdating=False
        'Turns screen updating off
        Charts.Add
        'Create a paper model chart
        ActiveChart.ChartWizard Source:=Sheets(shtname).Range(rge), _
            Gallery:=xlBar, Format:=3, PlotBy:=xlColumns, CategoryLabels _
            :=1, SeriesLabels:=1, HasLegend:=1, Title:=Title, _
            CategoryTitle:="", ValueTitle:="", _
            ExtraTitle:=""
        ' Basic chart definition
        ActiveChart.Legend.Delete
        'deletes the legend
        ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Select
        'activates series 1
        With Selection.Border
            .Weight = xlThin
            .LineStyle = xlNone
        End With
        'definition for the border for series 1
        Selection.InvertIfNegative = False
        'turns Invert if negative to false
        Selection.Interior.ColorIndex = xlNone
        'indicates that the area is set to none
        ActiveChart.PlotArea.Select
        'select the chart plot area
        ActiveChart.Axes(xlCategory).Select
        'select axis(1)
        With ActiveChart.Axes(xlCategory)
            .ReversePlotOrder = True
            .TickLabelSpacing = 1
            .TickMarkSpacing = 1
            .AxisBetweenCategories = True
        End With
        'axis 1 definition
        ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).Select
        'select axis(2)
        With ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue)
            .MinimumScale = mn
            .MaximumScaleIsAuto = True
            .MinorUnitIsAuto = True
            .MajorUnitIsAuto = True
            .Crosses = xlAutomatic
            .ReversePlotOrder = False
            .ScaleType = False
            .HasMajorGridlines = True
            .HasMinorGridlines = False
        End With
        ' Axis(2) definition
 End Sub 

Example of How to Use The Macro

1. Open a new worksheet 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 




2. Select cell A2 and format it with the month/day/year date format you want to use on the chart.



3. Highlight A2:D8. To run the macro, choose Macro from the Tools menu, and select the gantt_chart macro. In version 97, click Macro on the Tools menu, then click Macro and select the gantt_chart macro.



4. Enter the chart title when prompted.

Q73281 Excel: Creating Gantt Charts

REFERENCES

"User s Guide," version 5.0, chapters 15, 17, 18

Additional query words: 97 gannt

Keywords : kbprg kbdta KbVBA
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0; winnt:5.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type :