[From Wrike] The Gantt Chart Guide
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We've noticed that a lot of Wrike users have been looking for information on the Gantt Chart functionality. So, we decided to post this guide with all of the necessary detail ๐ If you have any further questions on this please do let us know, we'll be more than happy to help ๐
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Navigate the Gantt Chart
Wrike's Gantt Chart consists of two sections - the table portion on the left and the timeline on the right, more about those shortly. In the upper panel, you can choose the view that suits your needs best.
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Here are the features available on the left-hand side of the upper panel:
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1.ย Filter - See information that only meets the criteria that you decide, projects that started after a certain date, etc.
2. Hide empty folders - Remove folders with no projects/tasks from the Gantt Chart.
3. Highlight overdue - Show overdue projects/tasks in red to highlight them on the Timeline.
4.ย Critical Path - Highlights tasks that need to be finished so that the project doesn't fall behind schedule.
5. Undo - Reverse the last decision you made.
2. Hide empty folders - Remove folders with no projects/tasks from the Gantt Chart.
3. Highlight overdue - Show overdue projects/tasks in red to highlight them on the Timeline.
4.ย Critical Path - Highlights tasks that need to be finished so that the project doesn't fall behind schedule.
5. Undo - Reverse the last decision you made.
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The right hand panel above the timeline portion of the Gantt Chart has a set of useful options too:
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7. Expand and collapse them.
8. Create, view and send Gantt Chart snapshots.
9. Choose which item info youโd like to display on the chart.
10. Switch to the full-screen view.
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Table portion of the Gantt Chart
If you've never used a Gantt Chart before, don't worry! On the side of the timeline there is a table view which you can use to customize the timeline as you see fit. This is a great gateway into seeing how the Gantt Chart can help you visualize your projects.
Tasks on the Table
You can create tasks right from the Table view, and sort and reorder them in any way that you want. You can also roll up dates so that these new tasks will automatically follow the same dates as the projects that they are a part of.
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Just like in your Table View, you can customize which data you can view through the use of the top left bar. While some options are similar to the Table View, the options here will help show the information you require as clearly as possible on both the Timeline portion and the Table portion.
Table Columns
Also, in the Table View, you can select which columns appear. Some of these are specific to Gantt Chart, such as ones to create dependencies. Dependencies help you show the relationship between tasks, for example indicating which task needs to be completed first. You can change these through the Table view by choosing tasks in the Predecessor column. If you don't see this column, select the gear icon in the top left of the Table and check the Predecessor box.
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Timeline portion of the Gantt Chart
The timeline portion of Wrikeโs Gantt Chart is the visual representation of your work and there are many things that you can do from here.
Create Tasks
As well as on the table portion, you can also create new tasks on the timeline: press and hold Alt + Shift (or Ctrl + Shift if you are on Mac) on your keyboard, then hover your mouse over the date you would like to create a task. After that, you can click and drag your mouse from the desired start date to the correct end date to set the task's duration.
Set Up Dependencies
Creating dependencies between your tasks is very easily done on the timeline. Please note that there are multiple dependency types, as well as lead and lag time features.ย You can also create date constraints that signal the earliest date that a task can begin.
Print Timeline
Print the timeline portion of the Gantt Chart to generate a pdf file that you can save, view, share, and print for more visibility. You can also zoom in/out to increase or decrease the range of dates shown on the timeline and hide the table portion of the view using the caret icon.
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Other things you can do on the timeline include task rescheduling, changing tasksโ duration, and shifting dependency chains.
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How it all works together
The greatest benefit of working from the Gantt Chart is that both table and timeline portions work in tandem with each other: the changes you make on the table are immediately shown on the timeline and vice versa.
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It doesn't matter whether you prefer using tables or timelines - there's something for everyone in Wrike.
No other view provides you with the same visual representation as Gantt Chart; this is one of the key design philosophies of the view.
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Here are some more useful resources that will help you understand the key aspects of the Gantt Chart and start using it:
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How To: Gantt Chart - a quick How To guide to get started.
How to Manage Projects with Gantt Charts - a more detailed webinar provided by the Wrike's team.
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We sincerely hope that this guide armed you with all the necessary tools to get started with the Gantt Chart. Please don't hesitate to ask questions and share your thoughts on this functionality - how do you use the Gantt Chart? ๐
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