Basic timeline using Excel - can it be done?

[Ray Singh]

I need your help please.

I have a work spreadsheet with start and end dates, plus duration for events.
Is there an easy way to make a gannt chart style road map view of these? I usually export the data out to MS Project, make the timeline and then cut nad past the image back into MS Word reports.

However, this time, i need the timeline to be active - so must be in Excel

Any advice appreciated.

[niallf]

There are probably a number of ways to do it, but a simple method is to use a number of columns, based on the duration and granularity you want to display (e.g. weeks, months, years) and then change the width of all those columns to give you the density of display you need. Then you use conditional formatting, based on a custom formula, to set the colour of the cells in a row, based on the start date/end date/duration of the event.
There are a number of templates for doing this on the web. It's a fairly common use of Excel.

[kiethton]

That - or stacked bar charts - formulated and formatted (conditional or otherwise) to only display what you want it to in colour as an output

[FunkyGibbon]

which version of excel do you have? I have Office 365 and there are example templates for Gantt charts, Agile projects or simple timeline.

File -> New -> the browse templates or search for templates

PM me if you want me to send you the examples if you don't have them

FG

[Ray Singh]

Thanks for the replies (good old Pistonheads)

You are 100% correct FunkyGibbon - all sorts of templates under new, search for template....

Thank you all.