Visual Basic Module to Create Gantt Chart

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Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0|5.0
Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0c|5.0c
Microsoft Excel for Windows NT 5.0|5.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can create Gantt Charts that show task status for project planning and control. The example in this article shows the steps necessary to generate this type of charts using a Visual Basic, Applications Edition, procedure.

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MORE INFORMATION

The following Visual Basic macro creates a Gantt Chart.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. Enter the following in a Visual Basic module:

Sub gantt_chart()
    Dim rge As Variant
    Dim mn As Variant
    Dim shtname As Variant
    'defines the variables
         rge = Selection.Address()
        'get the cell address
        mn = Selection.Offset(1, 1)
        'return the min value for the scale
        Title = InputBox("Please enter the title")
        'Asks the user for title
        shtname = ActiveSheet.Name
        'retains the name of current sheet
        Application.ScreenUpdating=False
        'Turns screen updating off
        Charts.Add
        'Create a paper model chart
        ActiveChart.ChartWizard Source:=Sheets(shtname).Range(rge), _
            Gallery:=xlBar, Format:=3, PlotBy:=xlColumns, CategoryLabels _
            :=1, SeriesLabels:=1, HasLegend:=1, Title:=Title, _
            CategoryTitle:="", ValueTitle:="", _
            ExtraTitle:=""
        ' Basic chart definition
        ActiveChart.Legend.Delete
        'deletes the legend
        ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Select
        'activates series 1
        With Selection.Border
            .Weight = xlThin
            .LineStyle = xlNone
        End With
        'definition for the border for series 1
        Selection.InvertIfNegative = False
        'turns Invert if negative to false
        Selection.Interior.ColorIndex = xlNone
        'indicates that the area is set to none
        ActiveChart.PlotArea.Select
        'select the chart plot area
        ActiveChart.Axes(xlCategory).Select
        'select axis(1)
        With ActiveChart.Axes(xlCategory)
            .ReversePlotOrder = True
            .TickLabelSpacing = 1
            .TickMarkSpacing = 1
            .AxisBetweenCategories = True
        End With
        'axis 1 definition
        ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).Select
        'select axis(2)
        With ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue)
            .MinimumScale = mn
            .MaximumScaleIsAuto = True
            .MinorUnitIsAuto = True
            .MajorUnitIsAuto = True
            .Crosses = xlAutomatic
            .ReversePlotOrder = False
            .ScaleType = False
            .HasMajorGridlines = True
            .HasMinorGridlines = False
        End With
        ' Axis(2) definition
 End Sub

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Example of How to Use The Macro

Open a new worksheet and enter the following values:

     A1:            B1: START        C1: DAYS          D1: DAYS
     A2: TASK       B2: DATE         C2: COMPLETED     D2: REMAINING
     A3: TASK-1     B3: 1/1/91       C3: 150           D3: 15
     A4: TASK-2     B4: 5/1/91       C4: 21            D4: 31
     A5: TASK-3     B5: 7/1/91       C5: 0             D5: 114
     A6: TASK-4     B6: 10/1/91      C6: 0             D6: 4
     A7: TASK-5     B7: 10/15/91     C7: 0             D7: 31
     A8: TASK-6     B8: 11/1/91      C8: 0             D8: 2

Select cell A2 and format it with the month/day/year date format you want to use on the chart.
Highlight A2:D8. To run the macro, choose Macro from the Tools menu, and select the gantt_chart macro. In version 97, click Macro on the Tools menu, then click Macro and select the gantt_chart macro.
Enter the chart title when prompted.

The Gantt chart should now be displayed on a new chart sheet. Additional formatting can be added as needed.

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REFERENCES

"User s Guide," version 5.0, chapters 15, 17, 18

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APPLIES TO

Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition

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kbprogramming KB123260

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Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.

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