{"id":6276,"date":"2016-05-26T20:09:54","date_gmt":"2016-05-26T20:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.investintech.com\/resources\/blog\/?p=6276"},"modified":"2019-08-23T12:57:43","modified_gmt":"2019-08-23T12:57:43","slug":"project-managers-gantt-charts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.investintech.com\/resources\/blog\/archives\/6276-project-managers-gantt-charts.html","title":{"rendered":"4 Simple Ways Budding Project Managers Can Start Creating Gantt Charts"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OrganizedWhen remote teams are becoming more and more common, it isn\u2019t surprising to see project managers struggling to stay on top of things. One project involving a number of tasks with just as many people working on it can spin out of control. \u00a0You\u2019re not only working with people, but you\u2019re also working against time and resources.<\/p>\n

And this is where a\u00a0Gantt chart<\/a>\u00a0steps in. If you aren\u2019t using one as a budding project manager, you may want to. Gantt charts are an essential tool to project management. They keep a detailed track record of a project\u2019s critical path at any given moment.<\/p>\n

It keeps you up to speed on important factors like the progress or status of a task. Interdependent tasks and resources can be allocated, visualized, and coordinated. And with the internet and your everyday computer, Gantt charts can be updated as needed.<\/p>\n

But technology needs and personal preferences are diverse. We know there are many other simpler, quick fix tools that can be used to manage projects to varying degrees. Looking to step things up? Need more complex features?<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re stepping into a project mid-stream or need to consolidate your project calendar with an existing one, there are ways you can integrate existing tracking sheet and schedule data into a Gantt chart.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Convert\u00a0Google Calendar, Base Camp & Trello Into A Gantt Chart<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Now Google Calendar<\/a>, Base Camp<\/a> or Trello<\/a> are probably the most popular free tools online. They\u2019re easy to set up, offer the basic project tracking essentials and can quickly get you started.<\/p>\n

Google Calendar, as a project planning tool, needs no explanation. \u00a0Basecamp, known for its highly collaborative nature and tracking features, is a popular go to option for managing teams. And Trello is a web app that uses individual (and collaborative) task cards grouped into boards in lieu of a To-do list.<\/p>\n

So if you need to suddenly create professional-looking tracking reports or share your calendar with others, great news is that you can create a Gantt chart from all 3 tools using Ganttify.<\/p>\n

\"Gantt<\/p>\n

Ganttify<\/a> is a webtool that does what it sounds\u2014it takes your data and \u201cGanttif-ies\u201d it without having to do much but log into your accounts (note that with Trello<\/a>, though, your task cards need to have a start and end date included).<\/p>\n

2. Create Gantt Charts In Microsoft Excel <\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re just starting out on managing your first project, chances are you\u2019ll turn to familiar tools like Excel where you\u2019ll construct your own tracking sheet with basic formatting and formulas. However, don\u2019t be afraid to get a little more complex and use Excel to create a Gantt chart.<\/p>\n

Officetimeline.com<\/a>, for instance, offers up a detailed, step-by-step tutorial manual on how to create a Gantt chart Microsoft Excel<\/a> users can set up. Note, that creating one from the beginning can be time consuming, but as your projects become more complex, you\u2019ll be glad you invested the time.<\/p>\n

For those who don\u2019t want to create things from scratch, though, you can still get the job done by using a Gantt chart template. \u00a0You can find a variety of them online. Here are a few to start you off:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • A simple 4 week project timeline<\/a> Excel template from Office.com<\/li>\n
  • A free version of Gantt Chart Template Pro from Excel expert, Jon Wittwer, at Vertex42.com<\/a><\/li>\n
  • GanttExcel.com<\/a> also has a template you can download that has both a paid and free version<\/li>\n
  • Chandoo.org<\/a> offers a variety of Gantt chart templates for project management<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    3. Import Excel Data Into Microsoft Project\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    For a more specialized project management tool, Microsoft created MS Project<\/a>. While part of the popular MS Office suite, the project management software program isn\u2019t included with the desktop suite.<\/p>\n

    This program offers the high end features that are needed for more multi-level complex projects that need high level monitoring and workflow analysis, cost calculations, in-depth planning, enterprise-wide access and more.<\/p>\n

    However, if you started tracking your project with MS Excel and are switching over to MS Project, there\u2019s good news. You can simply\u00a0import Excel into Microsoft Project<\/a>. When you create a new project, choose to create one from Excel. From there, the MS Project import wizard will guide you through the rest.<\/p>\n

    4. Create A Gantt Chart Online <\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Online project management is common nowadays. And with cloud storage and remote teams, being able to take and keep things online is essential.<\/p>\n

    It isn\u2019t any wonder that you can create Gantt charts online free from the very beginning, making it easily accessible from wherever you or your team are. Though you get what you get with online versions, the essential features are there.<\/p>\n

    Ganttic.com<\/a> is an online resource planning, scheduling and management tool. While paid accounts will provide you with more features, for project managers that are bootstrapping it, there\u2019s a limited free account<\/a> available. It allows you only 10 resources to track. but despite the limitation, Ganttic.com has features that are streamlined and simplified.<\/p>\n