GanttProject is a cross-platform software designed for project planning and task and resource management using Gantt charts as the main planning tool. In addition to Gantt charts, the program allows you to create PERT charts. Since almost all the software in this series is, to one degree or another, an alternative to a paid product from Microsoft (Ms Project), it is important that Gantt Project Planner, created in Java, supports import-export of Microsoft Project documents. At the same time, the alternative program is distributed free of charge under the GPL Open License Agreement.

Specifications and requirements

This project planning software can be installed on Linux, Windows, MacOSX operating systems. Compatibility with other (third-party) projects is ensured by the use of the MPXJ library. However, Gantt Project only supports one of the 5 formats available in the library - MPX (Microsoft Project Exchange). Files in .txt and .xml formats are imported and exported. Reports are saved in .html and .pdf formats, and images are saved in .png, .jpeg or .csv formats, at your choice, which makes it possible to subsequently use spreadsheet programs.

Since the program is designed primarily for single-user use, a bonus is the ability to download and save a project file to FTP, allowing several users to open the same document. However, simultaneous editing can create substantive problems that are expected to be resolved manually.

The program interface has been translated into 20 languages, including Russian.

In addition, instructions (user manual) have been released so that all participants involved in the project, including those who speak only Russian, can freely use the software. Standardization in the approach to interface style simplifies the process of mastering the program for beginners.

Program functionality

The project planned in the program is presented in the form of a tree of tasks, for each of which the user assigns a performer. A certain time is allocated for each task. So that planned processes can form a single, logically integral project, dependencies and connections are established between tasks, for example, in the format: “Do not start task Y until task X is completed.”

To display information linked to a calendar, two types of charts are used:

Gantt and PERT.

• The Gantt chart here is a type of horizontal chart (rectangular bars) that illustrates the plan, work schedule, and structure of project tasks. The assigned task is entered on the left, and on top there is a calendar ruler measuring the duration of the process. A vertical line measuring the progress of tasks is drawn according to the current date. In addition to time dependence, diagrams reflect the relationships between tasks.
• The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (or PERT) network diagram is also a diagram that shows the dependencies between tasks within a project.

The developers announced that they were working on the implementation of the Critical Path Method (CPM) display, but this work has not yet been completed.

Project stages are highlighted in different colors for clarity and ease of orientation, if necessary. In addition to task deadlines and dates, you can additionally display on charts:

• task name,
• information about the project coordinator,
• information about assigned resources.

The “People” tab allows you to display employee employment statistics. Moreover, the program implements highlighting the status of a given performer by type of current employment in the following options:

• “busy” (“overwhelmed with work”),
• “free” (for appointment to work),
• "not being finalized"
• "on holiday".

User fields can be created directly in the tasks to which these users are involved. The entire process of project activation is carried out by creating an empty task and then displaying it on a chart. Since each task has certain properties, they must be entered (edited) in the properties window with the allocation of certain human resources to solve the problem.

An employee account requires filling out fields with name, function (role), phone number, email, and period of planned vacation. Functions (or roles) can be specified in program settings in any quantity. By default, only 2 roles are offered: “coordinator” and “person with an undefined role”. In general, this utility contains the minimum functional set necessary for running relatively simple projects.

Ganttproject is a Java application that allows you to plan projects using Gantt charts. With its help, you can very easily break a project into separate tasks, see dependencies and be able to manage resources.

GanttProject is a java charting software that schedules projects and manages resources.

It uses an XML-based file format and can export to HTML and PDF documents using XSL transformations. The application has been translated into 20 languages.

With GanttProject, you can split your project into a job tree and assign work resources to each job. You can set dependencies between tasks, for example, "you can't start this task until that one is completed."

GanttProject transforms your project using two charts: the Gantt chart and the resource load chart. You can print your charts, create PDF and HTML reports, and share data with Microsoft(R) Project(TM) and spreadsheet applications.

Key Features and Functions

• Easy learning: You don't need thick manuals to get started with GanttProject. If you are familiar with the concepts of "job", "assignment" and "dependency", you will become an expert in GanttProject in a few hours;
• Great Price: Commercial project management tools cost a lot of money. GanttProject is absolutely free;
• cross-platform: GanttProject is a Java application that runs on Windows, Linux, MacOSX and other operating systems with Java support;
• open source: You can customize GanttProject to your needs, add missing features and custom reports, etc.

This is a powerful Java application for project management based on planning and resource allocation with presentation through Gantt and PERT charts. In addition to the abundance of functionality, the product can export and import MS Project projects, which is sometimes a very significant advantage.

Free project management manager GanttProject description

If you like Gantt charts or resource utilization charts (PERT), or maybe are just used to them, and want an excellent tool for planning and monitoring projects, then perhaps free project management manager GanttProject this is exactly what you were looking for. Divide your tasks into separate subtasks, indicate dependencies between tasks and arrange resources as needed. Everything is the same as with MS Project, but with one important difference. The product is a Java program, which is why it can be run not only on Windows systems, but also on Mac OS and Linux.

The main data storage format is XML, so if you don't have enough options for importing and exporting both into Html and PDF documents and into MS Project, then you can always integrate your projects and applications. Another pleasant aspect of the program is the fact that the application has been translated into 20 languages, including Russian.

Free project management manager GanttProject main features (characteristics)

To your users free project management manager GanttProject offers the following features:

• Create, group (specify dependencies and relationships) and rank tasks. In addition to specifying the start and duration, each task can be assigned a priority, style (color and fill pattern), text notes, and custom fields.
• Import and export from Microsoft Project. An easy transition from a bulky giant to a functional product. Import and export from/to CSV (for analysis in Excel) is also supported.
• Create reports in PDF or html. All generated images can be saved separately and printed.
• Manage and plan project activities. All the most necessary data can be easily read from a hierarchical Gantt chart.
• Use WebDAV servers for group activities. GanttProject will monitor the correctness of changes.
• If you are interested in resource loading, then the PERT chart will help you quickly navigate the current state of the project.
• Plan and distribute the load of resources. The task monitor will help you keep track of any incidents with the load.

On the website you can always find all the necessary information, the download page and the official website of the developer. Remember download free project management manager GanttProject from the developer’s website- this is always the right move. Unfortunately, despite scanning the files with antivirus software, we cannot give you a 100% guarantee that the files are not infected. Always check downloaded files from the Internet for viruses!

GanttProject is a cross-platform software designed for project planning and task and resource management using Gantt charts as the main planning tool. In addition to Gantt charts, the program allows you to create PERT charts. Since almost all the software in this series is, to one degree or another, an alternative to a paid product from Microsoft (Ms Project), it is important that Gantt Project Planner, created in Java, supports import-export of Microsoft Project documents. At the same time, the alternative program is distributed free of charge under the GPL Open License Agreement.

Specifications and requirements

This software can be installed on operating systems Linux, Windows, MacOSX. Compatibility with other (third-party) projects is ensured by the use of the MPXJ library. However, Gantt Project only supports one of the 5 formats available in the library - MPX (Microsoft Project Exchange). Files in .txt and .xml formats are imported and exported. Reports are saved in .html and .pdf formats, and images are saved in .png, .jpeg or .csv formats, at your choice, which makes it possible to subsequently use spreadsheet programs.

Since the program is designed primarily for single-user use, a bonus is the ability to download and save a project file to FTP, allowing several users to open the same document. However, simultaneous editing can create substantive problems that are expected to be resolved manually.

The program interface has been translated into 20 languages, including Russian.

In addition, instructions (user manual) have been released so that all participants involved in the project, including those who speak only Russian, can freely use the software. Standardization in the approach to interface style simplifies the process of mastering the program for beginners.

Program functionality

The project planned in the program is presented in the form of a tree of tasks, for each of which the user assigns a performer. A certain time is allocated for each task. So that planned processes can form a single, logically integral project, dependencies and connections are established between tasks, for example, in the format: “Do not start task Y until task X is completed.”

To display information linked to a calendar, two types of charts are used:

Gantt and PERT.

• The Gantt chart here is a type of horizontal chart (rectangular bars) that illustrates the plan, work schedule, and structure of project tasks. The assigned task is entered on the left, and on top there is a calendar ruler measuring the duration of the process. A vertical line measuring the progress of tasks is drawn according to the current date. In addition to time dependence, diagrams reflect the relationships between tasks.
• The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (or PERT) network diagram is also a diagram that shows the dependencies between tasks within a project.

The developers announced that they were working on the implementation of the Critical Path Method (CPM) display, but this work has not yet been completed.

Project stages are highlighted in different colors for clarity and ease of orientation, if necessary. In addition to task deadlines and dates, you can additionally display on charts:

• task name,
• information about
• information about assigned resources.

The “People” tab allows you to display employee employment statistics. Moreover, the program implements highlighting the status of a given performer by type of current employment in the following options:

• “busy” (“overwhelmed with work”),
• “free” (for appointment to work),
• "not being finalized"
• "on holiday".

User fields can be created directly in the tasks to which these users are involved. The entire process of project activation is carried out by creating an empty task and then displaying it on a chart. Since each task has certain properties, they must be entered (edited) in the properties window with the allocation of certain human resources to solve the problem.

An employee account requires filling out fields with name, function (role), phone number, email, and period of planned vacation. Functions (or roles) can be specified in program settings in any quantity. By default, only 2 roles are offered: “coordinator” and “person with an undefined role”. In general, this utility contains the minimum functional set necessary for running relatively simple projects.

This type of bar chart is named after Henry L. Gantt, who developed it. This event took place in 1910.

The horizontal bars in a Gantt chart are located along the time axis. Each strip symbolizes a certain stage of work within one project.

The ends of the segment are the starting and finishing points of work on the task, the length is the duration of completion.

The vertical axis in such a diagram is the list of required tasks.

Before you start building a Gantt chart, you need to create a data table on the basis of which the chart itself will be compiled. It can be copied from a file or entered manually in a new Excel sheet.

In the first column you need to enter the name of a specific stage of the project. The second should be allocated to the date (time) of the start of the stage.

The next column will contain the duration of the stage. The fifth (optional) will be with the amount of delay between stages.

A negative value will mean the stages overlap in time. And the last one should be reserved for the date (time) of completion of the stage.

After organizing the table with the data, you can start creating the Gantt chart itself.

To create a template for the future chart, you need to select the first two columns.

In the “Insert” tab of the top menu you need a “Diagrams” section. In it you need to hover the cursor over the “Ruled” item.

In the options window that pops up, you must select “Stacked Bar.” With other options, creating a Gantt chart is not possible.

By clicking, a form with a primary diagram will appear, which will serve as a template for the finished diagram.

It is necessary to remove the legend in the workpiece; what it reflects in the process will not be useful at all. You can then delete or change the chart title.

You can do this by double clicking on it.

The next stage is the creation of strip segments, which will be the same diagram.

To do this, you will need to copy the contents of the “Duration” column.

And insert it into the diagram template. It is these segments that will become the Gantt chart. Now you need to hide the unnecessary blue sections of the stripes.

To do this, you must first select them all by left-clicking once on any line. When all the lines are selected, you need to right-click on any of them.

In the context menu, click on the “Fill” item and select “No fill” in the drop-down form.

Unnecessary segments are hidden, you can start customizing the appearance of the diagram.

Gantt chart design

Here you can see that the order of the items in the vertical axis does not correspond to how they are located in the table. They need to be inverted.

To change this, you will need the Axis dropdown menu. It is called by right-clicking on one of the items on the vertical axis.

It requires the item “Axis format...”, which opens the axis settings window.

In this window, you only need to check one box, “Reverse order of categories,” which will bring the positions of the items into the proper form.

After selecting it, you need to click the “Close” button at the bottom of the window. Now you can put the upper axis in order.

The vertical axis menu is called up in the same way as the horizontal axis settings. You will have to make more changes in the settings window.

In the first tab, “Axis Parameters”, you need to set the following parameters:

1. Set the “Minimum value” checkbox to the “Fixed” position, and enter the date (time) of the start of the first stage of the project in the field.
2. Set the “Price of main divisions” checkbox to the “Fixed” position, and enter the minimum division value in the field.
3. Set the “Price of additional divisions” checkbox to the “Fixed” position, and enter the minimum value of divisions in the field. The detail of the graph display depends on this item.

In the “Alignment” tab there is a “Text Direction” item. For the convenience of displaying dates on the top axis, the “Rotate text by 270 0” option is suitable.

After this, all you have to do is click the “Close” button.

At this point, in general, the diagram is ready; for greater clarity of the junctions of the stages, you can expand the stripes themselves.

To do this, you need to select them with one left click, then right-click to bring up the drop-down menu. The required settings window opens the “Data series format” item.

The “Side gap” item is responsible for the distance between the rows. A slider moved all the way to the left will mean that there are no gaps.

By moving it from side to side, you can adjust the optimal thickness of the lines.

Upon completion of these simple manipulations, the Project Gantaz chart is completed. You can immediately export it to Word or save it in a separate book.

Creating a project Gantt chart in Excel

How to create a project Gantt Chart in Microsoft Excel using a cleverly customized stacked bar chart.