Excel is one of the most known and used tools on the planet, so it’s no wonder teams around the world rely on it for task and time management. However, it takes precious time to manually create and organize different tasks along with their start and due dates, and it can quickly become outperformed by a dedicated Project Management software. So why not let the pros help? We have created a free and ready-to-download Inbound Marketing inspired Gantt chart Excel template, and it’s just one click away.
Download the Free Gantt Chart Template for Excel 2020
We understand the essence of progress through task management, so we built a free pre-designed Gantt chart that will truly help you and your team. By using our pre-made free Excel template, you will only need to write down your tasks alongside your dates. And just like that, you’ll be able to visualize and print your project in a minute. Adjust your priority tasks, update your deadlines and automatically calculate duration. Follow the steps below to start using the easiest to use free Gantt chart Excel template around.
Download Project Office: Gantt chart for macOS 10.12 or later and enjoy it on your Mac. Project Office is a full-featured project management app. Based on Gantt method, this app is built to make it easy juggling multiple projects, assign resources, track any remaining work to be done, and head off potential bottlenecks at a glance. Create a project schedule and track your progress with this Gantt chart template. The professional-looking Gantt chart is provided by Vertex42.com, a leading designer of Excel spreadsheets. The Excel Gantt chart template breaks down a project by phase and task, noting who’s responsible, task start and end date, and percent completed. Share the Gantt chart in Excel with your project team to. GanttMan is a Gantt chart app designed for the users on the Mac platform and allows effective project management right from the Android phones and tablets. The App allows for the view of the Gantt chart that compromises resources allocation and sorting by date option. Most Popular Software for 2016 – SmartDraw – Gantt Chart.
Do You Need Gantt Charts?
In this article, you will find a step-by-step guide to learn how to use our free Excel Gantt chart template (if you haven’t yet downloaded it, you can do it here). We’ve created this Gantt chart thinking of a quick and effective visual representation of a project, no matter what kind of project it may be. It is actually ready for you to start plugging in your own information, adding your dates, and begin tracking your progress, as easy as it really sounds.
1: Edit your tasks
Begin by renaming the pre-existing tasks to those that fit your project’s needs. You may do so by editing any task under the “Name” Excel column.
2: Update your dates
Now, you’ll need to edit your task’s start and end dates. These cells are pre-formatted as date cells (US format dictates Month, Day, Year, although you may change this format if and when needed).
3: Duration of tasks
Gantt Chart Excel Template Free Download Mac
We have pre-formatted our template so that each task is automatically calculated by subtracting the start date from the end date of each of your project’s tasks. You’ll notice how, as you enter your dates, the “Duration” column will populate on its own. Easy as that.
4: Fill in the user column
You may continue by assigning each task to different members of your team, so make sure to fill the “User” column with their own names. Also, you can edit the percentage on the “Progress” column depending on your task completion rate.
How to Customize your Free Excel Gantt Chart Template
Download the Free Gantt Chart Template for Excel 2020
Name your Gantt chart and start working on your project
You know your project better than anyone, so give it a proper title. You can customize our Excel Gantt chart template by simply selecting our sample title and changing and formatting the text as you normally would any text on an Excel file.
Change the colors of the bars
You can freely edit the color of the Taskbar within your Gantt chart. This is especially useful in case you wish to assign a specific color to a team member or to separate your tasks by task type. In order to change the color of your tasks, click on a bar twice. Select the Excel paint bucket, and choose a color from the taskbar.
We're gonna need a bigger chart
We built a fairly decent list of tasks, but we are fully aware a project can be much more complex. So, in case you need more room for your tasks, you can simply add additional rows by highlighting the last filled row in the chart, clicking “Insert” and then selecting “Rows”. More rows with the same format will be added above.
Last step: Print your Gantt Chart
Good job! Your project is now print-ready. In order to only print your Gantt chart, head to the chart and click on any of its corners. You’ll notice the entire chart will be selected. Go up to File - Print - Print Selected Chart. In case you are using Mac, you’ll need to hover over your chart and drag out a selection until it covers the entire chart. Head over to File - Print Area - Set Print Area.
Good job! Your project is now print-ready. In order to only print your Gantt chart, head to the chart and click on any of its corners. You’ll notice the entire chart will be selected. Go up to File - Print - Print Selected Chart. In case you are using Mac, you’ll need to hover over your chart and drag out a selection until it covers the entire chart. Head over to File - Print Area - Set Print Area.
You thought this was simple? Wait until you try building your own Gantt chart on Instagantt
There is nothing like building and managing your own project. Instagantt has been carefully designed to allow you to manage your schedules, timelines, tasks, and subtasks, while also collaborating and communicating with your team in one beautifully crafted software. Task management is our core function, and we take it seriously. Our Drag & Drop option will change the way you think of editing dates, changing lengths, or creating dependencies, forever. We believe every task is important when managing a project. So break down each task and carefully bring your projects to completion by adding subtasks. Mark especially important tasks with Milestones and feel the joy of completing parts of your projects by dividing it in Sections.
Instagantt is super easy to use. You’ll be creating Gantt charts like a pro in no time. So start your free trial now: https://instagantt.com/login Start by clicking on + New Workbook, and give your brand new workbook a proper title. You can begin by selecting Example Project on your menu, this is a great way to learn the basics.
You can now click on + New Project to start building your own Gantt chart. Give your project a name and click on Create. Your new project will now appear on the menu and you can start adding your tasks.
Once all your tasks and subtasks are all lined up, you may continue by assigning start and due dates to each of them. Also, you can write a basic description, add attachments, and simply manage every aspect of your project. Calculate the progress of your project by adding multiple subtasks; in case one of your tasks must be completed before you begin working on another task, you can add a dependency by dragging the corner to its predecessor and dependent task. And just like that, you can now start tracking your progress!
Quickly get a real sense of how much of your time and budget will be compromised on a specific task by completing the Estimated Hours, Actual Hours, Estimated Cost and Actual Cost fields. When creating tasks, simply click on the text field and type in the information.
Keep your team members informed of what’s happening by mentioning them and linking specific tasks or projects to them. Simply type “@” following the name of your teammate. They will receive a notification via email when a new activity is linked to them.
Instagantt also allows you to build ready-to-share online Gantt charts in minutes, virtually training free. Thanks to our Export & Share options, showing real-time progress becomes available in a second. Send an image, PDF, Excel file, or even a public snapshot of your work to your team or your clients. We focus on efficiency and there are many ways in which Instagantt can help you. Whether you are a project manager, a marketer, IT manager, homeowner, contractor, freelance worker, content manager, contractor or a government agency, Instagantt will become a must-have tool in your day-to-day work life!
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by Diana Ramos on Apr 16, 2019
If you’re looking for a way to run Microsoft Project on a Mac, unfortunately, you’re going to find that this isn’t possible. MS Project wasn’t built for Mac operating systems, meaning it won’t work on any Mac computer you’re using.
However, there is an easy way to solve this problem so you can continue to create powerful project management tools - like Gantt charts, which can help you track project tasks against a predetermined timeline - without having to give up your Mac computer.
The solve is easier than trying to run MS Project on your Mac, and it requires little effort to get started. Smartsheet enables you to import all MSP documents into its familiar, easy-to-use interface so you can keep working on your projects in a collaborative, Mac-friendly tool. It’s free to try, so you can test out how easy it is to track and manage your projects using your Mac computer.
How to Use MS Project on a Mac
If you’re interested in using MS Project, but are also working on a Mac computer, the most efficient, user-friendly solution to this common problem is Smartsheet.
Smartsheet integrates seamlessly on both Mac and PC operating systems, so you can manage, track, and report on your projects from anywhere, on any device. Smartsheet enables you to import all MS Project files directly, so you won’t miss a beat.
You can also choose from a variety of pre-built templates to help manage additional project details, like budgets, resources, inventory, and tasks. To get started, follow these simple steps.
Step 1: Sign Up for Your Free Trial
To get started on editing and managing your MS Project files using your Mac computer, sign up for your free Smartsheet trial to discover a collaborative, real-time way to manage your projects, from ideation to completion.
It’s free for 30 days, so you can try out the tool, import your existing MS Project files, and test out the many project management capabilities, like Gantt charts, Kanban boards, calendar view, and more.
Step 2: Import Your Microsoft Project Files
Once you’ve signed up for your free trial, log in to your new Smartsheet account and follow the below steps to import your existing MPP files into Smartsheet.
1. First, navigate to the ‘+’ icon on the left hand navigation bar. From there, select the Import button.
2. You will be brought to a screen that allows you to select what type of file you want to import. Select Microsoft Project.
3. A pop-up window will appear, prompting you with a tip box that details helpful tricks to remember as you import your file, and tips to help you get started.
4. Then, in the Import window, select which MPP file you would like to import from your computer, name it, and click Continue.
5. The MPP file will appear as a new sheet on the Home tab in the left panel.
Step 3: Start Planning, Tracking, and Managing Projects in Smartsheet
Edit, customize, and continue to manage and track your projects using Smartsheet, which offers greater functionality, including easier user adoption, flexible views, like Gantt, grid, Kanban card, and calendar, interactive Gantt capabilities, mobile accessibility, and more.
For more information on additional MS Project alternatives, visit this article, which details what to look for in your alternative tool, and how using a Mac doesn’t need to inhibit your ability to create effective PM solutions.
How to Create a Gantt Chart on a Mac
Gantt charts are one of the most popular project management tools to use when looking to effectively plan, organize, and track a project, and all of its components. If you’re looking to create a Gantt chart on your Mac OS, visit this article for step-by-step instructions and a quick tutorial video.
10 Essential Features You Need in a Gantt Chart Software for a Mac
1. Create Timelines:
This sounds like a basic feature, but timelines are at the heart of a Gantt chart and should work the way you do. When creating timelines, they should handle dependencies, which let you identify when one task needs to be completed before another one can start. It should also handle predecessor tasks - a feature that lets you create dependencies between tasks. Look for an option that automatically updates timelines as events change in the project.
2. Import/Export Multiple File Formats:
Not everyone you work with is using the same program as you, so be sure the Gantt chart software for Mac you select can support multiple file formats. Since Microsoft Project is such a widely adopted program, Gantt chart software for Macs should import and export Microsoft Project files. It should also import and export other popular file formats such as Adobe PDF and PNG image files. This allows you to both print and share the Gantt chart to others that may not have the same software.
3. Sync With Cloud Services:
With so much work done in the cloud today, select a Gantt chart program that syncs with popular cloud services such as iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox. One of the benefits of saving and accessing a Gantt chart from the cloud is that you’ll be able to access it on web-enabled devices, so you don’t need to be at the office to check on the status of a project. If you use a different cloud service, the program you pick should sync with it as well.
4. Create Calendars:
A Gantt chart offers a great high-level overview of a project, but some project managers prefer to track deadlines using a calendar view. Many programs provide the option of viewing the Gantt chart as a calendar, but it would be more useful if it could integrate with the calendar app you already use. Whether you use Google Calendar or Apple’s iCal to manage your schedule, the Gantt chart software should support calendar overlays (appointments in Google Calendar or iCal can be added to the Gantt chart) and the ability to update tasks from those calendar apps.
5. Customize Views:
One way to make Gantt charts really work for you is to customize them to suit your needs. Perhaps you want to select or change the colors of the bars or add new shades to represent different parts of the project. Can you set-up automatic alerts when a deadline for a task is approaching or has passed? You should also be able to annotate tasks by adding text to the chart. Not everyone working on a project needs to see the big picture; the Gantt chart program you select should allow you to create custom views for different team members.
6. Share and Collaborate with Team Members:
A Gantt chart isn’t just for project managers, it should be a useful tool for all of the team members working on a project. That’s why sharing features are an essential requirement. Be wary of programs that require you to buy a license for others to view or use the Gantt chart. This feature needs to be built-in. Team members should have the ability to leave comments and chat with others looking at the chart. With that in mind, in addition to working on a Mac, the program should support multiple platforms such as Linux and Windows. This will give people access to the Gantt chart regardless of the type of computer they use.
7. Integrate with iPhone and iPad:
If you’re a Mac user, chances are you have either an iPad or iPhone that you’d like to use to track a project. Make sure the option you choose allows you to view Gantt charts on your mobile devices. If you rely heavily on your iPhone or iPad, then look for a solution that also allows you to edit the chart on those products. Make sure to ask which versions of the OS are supported.
8. Drag and Drop for Schedules:
This comes down to how you enter information on your Gantt chart and general ease of use. Once your tasks are created, see if you can drag a specific task on the chart to change the duration or the due date. How easy is it to create dependencies between tasks? Can you just drag a line between them or do you need to enter more information?
Mac Gantt Chart Free
9. Create and Modify Milestones:
Gantt Chart software, free download
A milestone is a marker denoting a major part of any project. That can be an event or a task completion. Either way, it’s essential that you have the capability to easily add milestones in order to visually track major moments of the project cycle. Adding a milestone shouldn’t affect the other events in the chart, however, you should be able to associate tasks with it.
10. Generate Detailed Reports:
Reporting is key to any project. Gantt charts contain a ton of information that you’ll want to export in a form that allow you to easily track the status of a project, see which teams are (and aren't) on track, and make adjustments as needed. Look for a solution where you can create project status reports. Better yet, it should let you automatically generate reports that are then sent to you on a regular basis. If other people on the team need to see the report but don’t have the same software, make sure you can export the report in a format that works for them, such as PDF or Excel. Most Gantt software programs include dozens of other helpful features. Look for a program with an intuitive search tool, so you can quickly find additional useful features that will help you work more efficiently.
Use this quick checklist to see whether or not the Gantt chart software you're considering has the best features you'll need to effectively manage your projects.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Gantt Chart Software and the Benefits of Using One
Gantt chart software has historically been relegated to MS Project, but this is no longer the case. In fact, people tend to run into some general, widespread challenges with MS Project, specifically regarding cost, version control, and security and accessibility features — on top of it being incompatible with the Mac OS.
There are many Gantt chart software options on the market today, but choosing the one that integrates into your existing processes and provides the levels of support and detail that you need is critical to the success of your projects — and to your ROI.
Learn more about top features to consider as you search for a Gantt chart software. Visit Our Gantt Chart Software Page
Additional Project Management Resources for Mac
Now that you have a way to manage projects and create Gantt charts on your Mac device, we've got additional resources, including guides and templates, to help you better track, manage, and report on your projects from start and finish.
Best Free Gantt Chart Download
Discover a Better, More Collaborative Way to Manage, Track, and Report on Projects
In order to run the most effective projects and deliver them on time and on budget, you need a collaborative, real-time way to track all project details, from beginning to end. To do so, you need a project management solution that provides an easy way to update project details, manage resources, track budget, and keep all stakeholders in the loop.
One such solution is Smartsheet, a work execution platform that enables enterprises and teams to get from idea to impact — fast. Top project management leaders rely on Smartsheet to help align the right people, resources, and schedules to get work done.
Use Smartsheet to create consistent project elements, increase speed, and improve collaboration with scalable options that fit individual work preferences. Hold yourself and your team accountable, improve visibility into team priorities, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Try Smartsheet to discover a collaborative, real-time way to manage your projects, from ideation to completion.
Discover a more collaborative, real-time way to manage your projects.