Some categories have only a start shape (such as milestone), while other categories have a start shape, middle bar, and end shape (such as summary tasks). Under Start, Middle, and End, click the shapes, types or patterns, and colors for the bar. If the Gantt bar type doesn't appear in the table, you can create a new Gantt bar for the task type you want. In the Name field, click the type of Gantt bar (such as Task or Progress) that you want to format, and then click the Bars tab. To call attention to task bars on a Gantt Chart view, such as a milestone or summary task, you can change their color, shape, or pattern to separate them from other bars of a particular type.ĭouble-click anywhere in the chart portion of the Gantt Chart view (but not on individual bars) and click Bar Styles. What do you want to do?Ĭhange the color, shape, or pattern of Gantt barsĬhange the Gantt bars quickly using a styleĬhange the appearance of link lines between Gantt bars Keep in mind that any changes you make to one Gantt Chart view does not change the look of another Gantt Chart view. For example, you can change how nonworking time is displayed, or you may want to format a Gantt Chart view to quickly identify specific tasks, or perhaps you want to add text to specific bars to help you identify them. You can customize the chart part of these views in Project to better suit your needs.

Gantt Chart views allow you see, at a glance, task information in a columns and rows with corresponding bars along a timeline. Overview of formatting the Gantt Chart view Customizing the bars on a Gantt Chart view is often the first thing a project manager does to create clarity in a project and to help spot problem areas quickly.

Gantt bars look simple enough, but they can get confusing as projects get complex.

Additional timeline bar ms project