Knowing that you’re making a progress and you’re getting closer to your goals is very relieving. It only means that all your efforts have finally paid off despite all the obstacles encountered. But your success wouldn’t be possible without the use of a Gantt chart to illustrate your progress. Indeed, scheduling works wonders but using Gantt charts work even better. Here, we have a collection of Schedule Gantt Charts in Excel to help you make one yourself. Whether it’s for personal or marketing purposes, these ready-made samples come with easily editable designs to ensure your chart stands out. Start subscribing to our templates today!
How to Make a Schedule Gantt Chart in Microsoft Excel
According to an article by Kimberlee Leonard, effective scheduling serves as a basis for developing success standards. Since it visually represents schedules, Gantt charts make tracking of dates and deadlines easier. If you wish to make one in Excel, feel free to read through the tips provided below.
1. Get Acquainted with the Gantt Chart
Not everyone is well-acquainted with Gantt charts. But even if you are, it’s always best to know more about it to help you make one that’s reliable. Do some research about the dos and don’ts or tips and tricks of making a Gantt chart.
2. Gather Information about the Schedule
What is the schedule covering? And how long is it going to last? These are just some examples of details that you can gather when making a schedule Gantt chart. For convenience on your part, make a checklist of the gathered information. This way, you can easily distinguish between the details that have been added from those that still need to be added.
3. Set the Duration of Each Activity in the Schedule
Apart from the list of tasks, your Gantt chart should also indicate the duration of every activity. This is what separates Gantt charts from regular schedules. The best thing about this is that the duration is represented by a progress line or bar. Always consider the weight of each task, allocate more time on heavier ones.
4. Use Excel to Create Your Schedule Gantt Chart
Now, you can finally start making your Gantt chart in Microsoft Excel. This spreadsheet processor is capable of creating charts and diagrams, and you don’t necessarily have to deal with complex formulas. When making a schedule Gantt chart, you’ll simply need to stick with the basics. Use the cells on the left for the tasks, the ones on the top for the dates, and fill the ones in the middle with colors to create the progress bars.
5. Mark Milestones to Highlight Important Events
Last but not least, highlight important events by adding milestones. These include unexpected occurrences or drastic changes in the project. In Excel, you simply need to input these inside the cells that fall under the corresponding column dates.
