How to Create MS Project Gantt Chart? A Step-By-Step Guide

If you are a project manager, you are fully aware of the importance of project management software. There is now a lot of project management software in the market, and one of the basic and simple project management software is MS project.

The Gantt chart in MS projects helps manage projects as it helps you visualize the workflow in one place when everything is arranged in a synchronized manner. If you are using MS project and want to create a Gantt chart in MS project, then read this article. After reading this article, we are sure you will master the art of creating these charts in the MS project.

How to Create Gantt Chart in MS Project?

Here are the simple steps to follow if you are looking for how to create a Gantt chart in an MS Project.

Step 1: Open the MS Project

The first step is simple, open the MS project and choose a new project option.

Step 2: Add the Task Information

After that, a blank sheet will appear. It is almost the same as Excel with duration, starting time, and end time. You have to add the task information, and you can divide each task into subtasks.

Step 3: Add Timelines

After creating tasks and subtasks, the next thing to do is add the start and finish times.

After you add the start and finish dates, the Gantt charts on the right will simply show the progress of each task and subtasks, making it easier for you to know the workflow.

How to Customize Gantt chart in MS Project?

If you are new to Gantt charts, then we know you have trouble customizing the Gantt chart but follow these simple tips to customize the Gantt charts in MS project.

Tip 1. How to Change Date Format in MS Project Gantt Chart?

Here are the steps to change the date format in the MS project Gantt chart

Step 1: Click on the File

Open the MS project and click on the ‘File option in the top left corner.

Step 2: Click on Options

A new bar will appear and click on the ‘Options’ in the lower left corner.

Step 3: Click on General

After clicking on ‘options, ’ click on the general options, and you can see the date format option here.

Step 4: Click on the Date Format

Click on the Date format, and you will be presented with many different date formats. Choose your choice. Click on the ‘OK’ option, and your changes will be saved. You can go back to the Gantt chart to see if the data format is changed.

Tip 2. How to Add Labels to Gantt Chart in MS Project?

Here are the steps to add labels to the Gantt chart MS project:

Step 1: Open the Gantt Chart

Open the Gantt Chart on the MS project

Step 2: Click on the Resource Name

Click on the resource name option, which appears after the task’s timeline. You can click on the resource name and add a label to it. However, if you want to add another label, like the completion rate, click right and click ‘Format Bar’ option.

Step 3:Click on the Right

After clicking on the format bar, a new menu will appear. Click on the right option. Here you can change the label to any form you want.

For example, if you change the resource name from %completion, the label will show you the percentage of the work completed.

After you select, click OK, and your changes will be updated.

Tip 3. How to Add Title to MS Project Gantt Chart?

Here are the steps to add a title to ms project Gantt’s chart

Step 1: Click on File

Click on the File option you will be presented with a menu list. Click on the ‘Save As’ option.

Step 2: Click on the Print Option

Click on the print option and select ‘Page Setup’, and another page will appear.

Step 3: Click on the Header

Click on the ‘Header’ option and add a title in the bottom space. Click OK to save the changes. After clicking OK, you can see that a title is added to your Gantt chart at the top.

Tip 4. How to Add Vertical Line to MS Project Gantt Chart?

Here are the simple steps if you are looking for how to add a vertical line to the ms project Gantt chart

Step 1: Right-click on the Gantt Chart.

Click right on the Gantt chart, and a menu will appear. Click on the Gridlines.

Step 2: Click on the Bottom Tier Column

After clicking on the Gridlines, you will be presented with another tab. You will have various options but choose the ‘Bottom Tier Column’ for vertical lines.

Step 3: Customize the Bottom Tier Column

Choose the type of the Bottom tier column by clicking on the ‘Type’ option. Click OK to change the settings. After clicking the OK, you can see the vertical rows in your Gantt chart on the MS project.

Add vertical line to MS Project Gantt Chart

Tip 5. How to Change Gantt Chart Colors in MS Project?

If you are looking for how to change Gantt chart colors in an ms project, then here is how to do it in three simple steps:

Step 1: Right Click on the Colored Line

Click right on the colored line on which you want to change the color. A menu will appear. Click on the ‘Format Bar’.

Choose colored line in MS Project Gantt Chart

Step 2: Click on the Color

Click on the Color after a tab of ‘Format Bar’ appears.

Step 3:Choose the colors.

After clicking on the colors, you will be presented with several options; click on the color you want for your Gantt chart. Repeat the steps for all the lines if you want to change the color of the whole Gantt chart.

Gantt charts of the MS projects are great for project management, but sometimes you may need to export them for presentations or sharing. Here are different ways to export the Gantt chart from the ms project

1. How to Export Gantt Chart from MS Project to Excel?

Here are the steps to follow to know how to export the Gantt chart from ms project to excel:

Step 1: Click on the File

Click on the File option in the top left corner

Step 2: Click on Save as

Click on the ‘Save as’ option, and you will be presented with a bar.

Step 3: Choose the ‘Excel’

Choose the Excel option from the menu and click OK, and your Gantt chart will be saved as Excel.

Choose excel to export MS Project Gantt Chart

2. How to Export Gantt Chart from MS Project to PowerPoint?

Here are the steps to follow if you are looking for How to Export Gantt Chart from MS Project to PowerPoint:

Step 1: Open the Gantt Chart

Open the Gantt Chart on the MS project.

Step 2: Save the Gantt Chart in the form of a picture

Click on the copy, and you will be presented with two options. Choose the ‘Copy picture. After this, save the picture to a computer document by adding a file.