Gantt Chart View
In this article:
Overview
A Gantt Chart view is a space view in the form of a bar chart that shows you a project schedule in a highly visual manner. The cards will be seen in a timeframe view and it’s easy to see their conditions in the present day. A Gantt Chart view shows all time-dependent cards sorted chronologically on a timeline. It is a perfect tool for complex, long-term task planning.
It is also the great tool for tracking cards with their relations and even creating new connections between them. With the Gantt Chart view you can focus on time dependencies between cards, as time is the essence of this view. The parent and child relation is shown in the example above.
Expand tasks to reveal subcards, which appear as smaller bars below the main card.
Example: Close-up on the Gantt Chart space view with the weekly scale. Each card appears as a horizontal bar. The length of the bar represents the task duration.
The width of the card node depends on the card duration.
Example: Sometimes a card is too small on the chart to fit its name. Hover over a card to display its preview.
Learn more about the Gantt Chart view:
Navigating Gantt Chart view
To navigate the Gantt Chart view, press and hold the mouse button on the chart and move left or right. You can also use the left and right arrows on the keyboard.
Current time bar
The Gantt Chart view shows a timeline, marked with months, years, or other selected time scales. The timeline scrolls horizontally, allowing you to see how tasks are distributed over time.
The blue vertical bar in the center will highlight the present time unit. This makes it easier for you to inspect the timeframes of card bars against the current date.
Example: The arrows take you to the location of the card. The Gantt Chart view with the daily scale.
When cards do not fit in the current view, small arrows appear along the edges of the window. You can click on it to move to the card.
Informational section
On the left side, you will find the hidden section with card names and other card details in columns. Each row is at the same level as the card on the Gantt Chart. Columns with card details such as card status or responsible user can be added to the panel using display settings.
Example: The left panel of card details can be expanded. Each item is located at the level of the corresponding card in the chart.
The card details you can add as a column are:
- Cards status
- Start date
- Due date
- Duration (card duration can be presented in hours, days, weeks, months, or autoscaled)
- Responsible user
- Custom fields assigned
- Default parent
Example: Card duration presented as a column with the autoscale option.
To add a column on the left details panel:
- On the top space bar, go to the display settings
> Columns > + . - Select the position you want to add as a column.
> Columns > + .Time scale
Depending on the project’s needs, you can set the appropriate time scale. Select a day, week, month, quarter, half-year, or year time range. The time scale drop-down menu is located on the top right part of the view.
Example: The Green Week space with the Gantt Chart view with the monthly scale.
To change the time scale:
- Above the chart, select the Scale button.
- Select the scale type.
- Save the view changes.
Scale button.Display settings
Adjust the Gantt Chart view to your needs. Go to display settings, where you can:
- Group cards
- Filter cards
- Sort cards
- Color card frames
- Set the card types
- Set row high (S, M, L, XL)
- Set the columns and card types in the informational section
- Exclude cards from other spaces
- Show/hide users on card nodes
- Reverse groups
- Hide empty groups
- Show/hide card names
- Enable scroll-only mode (disable/enable editing on touch devices)
- Ignore parent-child relations
Adding cards to the chart
Cards without dates can only be displayed in the panel on the left using the option in display settings.
To display cards in the side panel:
- Go to the display settings .
- On the Show cards without dates position turn the toggle to the right.
The list of cards will appear in the panel on the left. Click on a specific date on the chart to add a card there. Then you can expand it. This way you add the start date and due date to the card.
Example: Managing card dates in the Gantt Chart view.
Read more about managing card dates in the Gantt Chart view.
Creating cards in Gantt Chart view
Creating a card works differently depending on the selected view settings in space.
To create a card when grouping by none:
- Above the chart, select the + Add card button.
- Enter the card name.
- Change the card status, select the person responsible and card dates (optional).
- Select Create card.
To create a card when the card grouping option is enabled:
- On the left panel, beside the selected grouping option, select the + button.
- Enter the card name.
- Change the card status, select the person responsible, and card dates (optional).
- Select Create card.
Usage examples
Who and why can use the Gantt Chart view? See examples of situations where it can be useful.
- Construction Project Management
- Why Gantt Chart View? Ideal for managing complex projects with multiple interdependent tasks and timelines.
- Use Case: Construction managers can plan and oversee various phases of a building project, such as design, procurement, and construction, by visualizing task sequences and dependencies.
- Benefit: Enhances coordination among teams, ensures timely completion of tasks, and helps in identifying potential delays early in the project lifecycle.
- Automotive Product Development
- Why Gantt Chart View? Essential for coordinating cross-functional teams in product development cycles.
- Use Case: Automotive companies can manage the development of a new vehicle model by tracking tasks like design, engineering, testing, and marketing, ensuring each phase aligns with the overall timeline.
- Benefit: Facilitates seamless collaboration across departments, maintains project momentum, and ensures timely market launch.
- Banking Sector – Compliance and Risk Management
- Why Gantt Chart View? Crucial for overseeing regulatory compliance projects with strict deadlines.
- Use Case: Banks can monitor compliance initiatives by scheduling audits, policy updates, and training sessions, ensuring adherence to regulatory timelines.
- Benefit: Ensures regulatory requirements are met promptly, reduces the risk of non-compliance penalties, and improves overall governance.
- Research and Development Projects
- Why Gantt Chart View? Suitable for managing research projects with multiple experiments and review stages.
- Use Case: R&D teams can plan experiments, analyze results, and schedule peer reviews, maintaining a clear overview of project progression.
- Benefit: Enhances project transparency, facilitates timely decision-making, and accelerates innovation cycles.
- IT Infrastructure Upgrades
- Why Gantt Chart View? Effective for coordinating system upgrades and minimizing downtime.
- Use Case: IT departments can schedule hardware replacements, software updates, and testing phases, ensuring minimal disruption to services.
- Benefit: Improves planning accuracy, enhances communication among stakeholders, and ensures a smooth transition during upgrades.
FAQ
What is a Gantt chart?
A Gantt chart is a visual tool for organizing and tracking projects by displaying tasks and timelines in a bar chart format.
Are there more views with card relations highlighted?
Yes, you can observe card relations in the Mind Map view too. There is also an option to expand child cards in the Kanban view and List view.
How can the Gantt Chart view be customized in KanBo?
The Gantt Chart view in KanBo can be customized by adding or removing columns in the informational section, selecting an appropriate time scale, changing the row height, or filtering cards.
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