- To create Gantt Charts on Mac fast, it is extremely easy and unexpectedly fast to do it with professional and powerful diagramming software like EdrawMax. Step 1: Open a Gantt Chart Template Open a blank drawing page and the libraries including symbols needed for creating Gantt Charts. Navigate to File Project Management Gantt Charts.
- GanttProject is one of the best free online Gantt chart software that is downloadable and standalone. If you are looking for a supplement to your existing project management suite, then it serves as a great software solution. It is written in Java and is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
- Best Gantt Chart Software for Mac. Explore these highest-rated tools to discover the best option for your business. Based on ratings and number of reviews, Capterra users give these tools a thumbs up. Select a product to learn more.
Jan 22, 2018 As the software is only available for Windows computer, Mac user had no choice than to create gantt charts with Excel or other spreadsheet applications. Today, user can choose from a wide range of gantt chart tools for Mac. FREE TRIAL With the 14-day trial, you can try all of the features of Project Office for macOS X for free. After the trial, you can continue using Project Office in a Preview Mode. BASIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT OPTIONS. Gantt chart view: Each task is shown graphically on visual timeline by day, week, month or year.
Gantt charts are a core part of the project planning process. Which functions do they offer and how do you find the right application to fit your requirements? In this article, we'll cover all the important questions relating to gantt chart tools on macOS.
Definition: What is a gantt chart?
When to use a gantt chart
Gantt charts on macOS
Checklist: How to find your perfect gantt chart tool
Definition: What is a gantt chart?
A gantt chart can be defined as a traditional project management tool to visualize the project schedule and to monitor the progress of project activities.
In a gantt chart all activities are displayed as bars in separate rows. You enter activities in the first column of a spreadsheet. As the first row marks the timeline your activities are displayed as a bar more left or right in its row depending on its start and end date. The bar is smaller or langer according to its calculated duration. In the end, you will get a good overview of all activities and their position in the context of the project as a whole.
You can easily find overlapping activities as their will be apparent as overlapping bars. Different colors are used to visualize if a task is still to be done, is work in progress or completed. Normally, it is also possible to highlight the critical path, i.e. those activities which affect the completion date of the project.
The name gantt chart refers to the American mechanical engineer Henry Gantt who did not invent this methodology but used and optimized the approach and made it popular during the 1910s.
When to use a gantt chart
Gantt diagrams can be used as planning tools for every kind of project. In contrast to other project visualizations, i.e. work breakdown structure, gantt charts can be created rather quickly with no time consuming training.
Gantt charts are especially handy when managing small and middle sized projects. As the tend to get confusing, if too many activities shall be displayed. However, with the right degree of detail even complex project can be displayed just fine. It's a challenge to find a balance between visualizing bigger work packages to keep the chart informative meanwhile neglecting details and to display small work packages while loosing a comprehensive view over the whole project.
Gantt charts on macOS
For a long time, Microsoft Project was the only serious project management application on the market. As the software is only available for Windows computer, Mac user had no choice than to create gantt charts with Excel or other spreadsheet applications.
Today, user can choose from a wide range of gantt chart tools for Mac. There are free applications as well as fee-based services, tools for beginners and professional users. Not all applications satisfy the minimum requirements you should set. The features and usability of different gantt chart tools varies quite a lot.
Free vs. fee-based applications
Why should you buy a gantt chart software if there are free applications available? At least, high software quality not always correlates to high prices. However, free gantt tools often come with a very minimal range of functions and lack customization options. You do not have to deal with those problems when investing a small amount in professional gantt chart software.
If you have little experience working with gantt charts or if you cannot dismiss the possibility of evolving requirements, it is usually a good idea to consider a professional software. You will save yourself unnecessary stress and time you need to switch to a better solution later on.
Cloud applications vs. local applications
Today, there are lots of saas applications you can use directly from your browser with no need of local installation. You don't need to worry about your IT infrastructure of the limitations of your operating system. That's for advantages. But cloud applications pose a huge security threat as they save confidential data on servers outside the company's direct control. This risk can be avoided if companies use local software and sync their data via secure server to share them with others. In this way, they benefit from the same flexibility saas applications offer but without the downsides. Besides, local software takes advantage of macOS' strengths and fits in well with the general usabilty. Both factors contribute to an efficient workflow and a short introduction phase.
Checklist: How to find your perfect gantt chart tool
- Scheduling: The schedule is at the core of every gantt diagram. You should be able to display previous and following tasks as well as dependencies. Moreover, you should be able to plan activities without fixed due date so that start and end date will vary depending on the progress of previous tasks.
- Different views: A gantt chart is not always the best view to manage a project. Many applications allow you to switch between different views like mind maps, PERT charts or WBS.
- Customization: You should be able to customize the software according to your needs, i.e. you can color bars, set reminders for upcoming deadlines, attach documents, add comments.
- Usability: Check if you can navigate the user interface intuitively. Can you access important commands via short cuts or are they hidden in the depth of the menu? Are you able to assign different authorizations to adjust views according to the team member's status? Does the program offers a comprehensive help andn easy to access resources?
- Import/Export: Not every software supports file formats that can be easily opened and edited on different operating systems. However, compatibility is especially important for professional and longer projects and should be included as a key feature.
- Collaboration: Check if the application fulfills your requirements for team work. Is it possible to work with multiple users at the same time in one document? Can you open and edit a project file via mobile device or web browser? Can you track comments and changes back to individual users?
- Synchronization:If your team is spread over different locations, make sure you can access the gantt chart software from mobile devices.
- Reporting: Which reporting functions are indcluded? Clear and compelling reportings are important for effective project controlling.
- Templates: Many applications offer templates for gantt charts, some of which are free. They can speed up the planning process significantly. Check if the software has relevant templates for your field of use.
- Demo version: Every professional software should offer a free demo version for customers to test functionalites and usability before the actual purchase.
Merlin Project and Merlin Project Express fulfill all mentioned criteria. For small projects, Merlin Project Express is a good fit. For complex and professional use, Merlin Project is the application of choice. You can download both versions and try them free for 30 days.
If you have any questions or problems, contact our support team.
How-TosThe Gantt chart is an essential tool used in project management. It makes the project manager track the progress of the project against time. In the Gantt chart, the whole project is divided into sub-tasks, and then those tasks' progress is then plotted on the chart in the form of a bar. The milestones are also added with the tasks in the diamond shape.
The progress is on the left side of the chart, while the resources and tasks' names are on the right side. The chart helps to see how much work has been done related to the project deployed on a task, what kind of tools are in use, etc.
In this article, we will see how to make a Gantt chart on a Mac, what a Gantt chart is, its importance, and everything related to it.
For this project, we will use the Pages tool on the Mac to make a Gantt chart. See the below steps thoroughly.
Step 1: Launch the Pages application
Open the Pages application. In the Basic category of templates, double-click the Blank Landscape. This layout is approved for the Gantt chart.
Now, add the table to your project by navigating to Insert > Table , or click the Table above the page on the taskbar.
Now, add the names of the tasks of your project in the first row. Keep the names short, so they apply nicely to the graphics. In the third row, add each task duration in which the task has to be done.
Step 2: Create a 2D stacked bar chart
On the ribbon of the page, click on Insert and then go to the Chart. The menu will show you the 2D Stacked Bar. Wait for a second the stacked bar will automatically generate a raw bar.
Step 3: Input the data into the chart
In this step, select and copy all the project data in the first row by using Cmd + C. Now, click on the Edit Chart Data option that appears after the selection of the data.
On the Chart Data window, select the first cell in the top-left corner and paste all the data here. The graphics will automatically update your data on the bar chart.
Step 4: Turn the bar chart into the Gantt chart
To make your projects look like a Gantt chart, follow these steps. It will simply make the blue bar transparent and the green one more illuminated.
Double-click on any blue bar. It will select all the blue bars on the project. In the Format pane on the right side of the page's document, click the Style tab. Next to Fill, click on the color indicator and then select No Fill.
The basic Gantt chart is done! And you can change the color or make some customizations to help it look more professional.
Step 5: Customize the task bars
Click the chart area and then click on any bar to select all at once. Then go to the Style tab in the Format pane. Use color indicators near the Fill option and choose a new color you like. You can see any of the templates on the internet to see how the colors are done on the bars.
For displaying the task duration, select all the bars by pressing Shift + Click, then go to the Series tab. Under the Value Labels, select Number from the drop-down menu. Use the location feature to change the placement of the value labels.
Step 6: Chart Area Customization
Customize the chart area by the Chart tab of the Format pane. Under Chart Options, tick the Border and Title options. Uncheck the legend if it seems redundant to you.
Under the Chart Font option, you can also customize the chart fonts. Under the Gaps option, use the up-down controls to increase or decrease the space between the chart bars. In the same Format pane, click on the Axis tab and go to the Minor Gridlines to add the vertical lines to your project.
How to Make a Gantt Chart in Number for Mac?
Here we will see how to make a Gantt chart in the Numbers application of the Mac.
Step 1: List your data in tables
Launch the Numbers application. Under the Basic section of the template gallery, select the Charting Basics category. On the far left side of the Charting Basics, click on the '+' tab to create a new sheet. The table is added to the newly generated sheet. Add your tasks to the first column.
Using the first task as a reference, add the start week for each of the project phases. In the next column, list each time duration in which the task has to be done.
Step 2: Create a 2D stacked bar
Select all the data that you add on the table and then go to Insert > Chart. Choose 2D Stacked Bar from the menu that appears after the data selection. The data will automatically generate the bars.
Step 3: Turn your bar chart into the Gantt chart
In the Format pane on the right side of the sheet, select the Style tab. Next to the Fill, click on the color indicator and select No Fill. Then the blue bars will 'disappear'.
Step 4: Customize the Gantt chart
To add some colors, go to the Style tab in the Format pane and click on the Fill. See the template on the internet to take the color guidance. You can also add effects and styles from the Style section.
To display task duration, select all the bars and then go to the Series tab, where you will find the Value Labels and then select 'Same as Source Data.' by clicking on the arrow on the left.
Check the Border and Title under Chart Options. You can change the styles or sizes of the fonts under Chart Fonts. In the Chart tab, select Gaps and the up-down controls to modify the gap between your bars. To add the vertical lines, select the Axis tab of the Format pane and then go to Minor Gridlines to add the lines to your project.
EdrawMax
All-in-One Diagram Software
Best Free Gantt Chart Software For Mac Free
- Superior file compatibility: Import and export drawings to various file formats, such as Visio
- Cross-platform supported (Windows, Mac, Linux, Web)
To create Gantt Charts on Mac fast, it is extremely easy and unexpectedly fast to do it with professional and powerful diagramming software like EdrawMax.
Step 1: Open a Gantt Chart Template
Open a blank drawing page and the libraries including symbols needed for creating Gantt Charts. Navigate to [File] > [Project Management] > [Gantt Charts]. Double-click the icon of Gantt Chart.
Step 2: Add Gantt Chart Data Options
From the Gantt Chart symbol library, drag and drop shapes to the canvas. Then a dialogue box pops up. You can set Gantt chart data in this dialogue box, including date format, start and finish date. (Tip: This dialogue box can be re-opened through Options button on Gantt Chart pane.)
Step 3: Set Gantt Chart Currency Unit and Format
You can set the currency format at the bottom right corner of the pop-up dialogue. (Note: the default currency format goes with the software default setting. It's under the Options menu on File tab.)
Step 4: Edit Gantt Chart
Resize and Move Gantt Chart
Drag the green square handles to resize Gantt chart. Click on the chart and drag it to move it.
Add a Task or Sub Task in Gantt Chart
You can right click above a task to add a task or a sub task.
Another way is to use the quick buttons under the Gantt Chart tab to add a task or delete a task.
Change Column Width or Row Height
To change the column width, place the cursor on the line between two columns and drag, just as the way excel operates.
To change the row height, place the cursor on the line between two rows and drag.
Insert Columns
You can right click to insert a new column after the selected column. Choose the title of column from the pop-up dialogue box. For example, we can add a priority column.
Tip:
- You can change the priority by clicking on the symbol.
- To hide a column, right click on a column and choose Hide Column.
Step 5: Add Gantt Chart Contents
Double-click a cell to type in text such as the task name. -> Choose a different font under Home tab.
Step 6: Change Task Bars in Gantt Chart
When double clicking the text editing box to input task start date and finish date, the progress bar is updated automatically according to the new date.
Also, you can rest the cursor at the end of a bar, when the cursor changes as a two-way arrow (No.1), drag the bar to change the finish date.
Hover the cursor above a bar, and when the cursor changes into a four-way arrow (No.2), you can move the whole task bar. When the bar is moved, the start and finish date will change accordingly.
Input the task completed percentage, and the green progress bar will be upgraded automatically. Alternatively, position the cursor at the beginning of the bar, when the cursor turns as a two-way arrow and a percent symbol (No.3), drag the bar to change the complete percentage.
Step 5: Add Relationship Between Two Tasks
To add a relationship between two tasks, put the mouse curser on one task and drag to another task. Then the two tasks will be connected by an arrow.
Step 6: Save or Export Gantt Chart
Click Save on File tab to save your Gantt chart as the default format of Edraw documents. Choose Save as on File tab to save as other formats. You can choose to upload your chart to the cloud so that you can access it anytime anywhere.
Hit Export & Send under File to export the Gantt chart as images, presentation slides or other format you want.
Step 7: Print Gantt Chart
Click File tab; choose Print and then the print setting and preview window show. You can choose which pages and how many copies to print here.
What Is The Best Gantt Chart Software For Mac
If the drawing page is larger than the print paper, the drawing will be printed on more than 1 paper. To print it on only 1 paper, click More Print Setup... and then choose Fit to.
We have elaborately prepared some Gantt Chart examples for you to get started quickly.
Get the Most Out of Your Gantt Charts with EdrawMax
Motivate yourself to use an efficient tool like EdrawMax that contains the complete set of all features and allows you to do your task from anywhere.
You can use EdrawMax to make your Gantt charts. EdrawMax is an all-in-one diagram-making software that makes it easy to make any diagram by just drag-and-drop. The software contains thousands of diagram-making symbols that will make your diagram complete and perfect.
The software provides hundreds of templates that you can use or import your project to customize it further. EdrawMax has both free and premium versions. It also allows you to download your project in many formats and export your project on any social media site.