Gantt Chart Width

[broncojim]

How can I change the width of the chart column without affecting the start
and finish dates?

 

[WapperDude]

Left click at the top of the column such that all of it is selected. Grab
one of the middle green squares and drag to the desired width. Or...either
before or after selecting the column, go to menu bar > View > Size and
Position Window. Then, enter the value you want for the Width.

HTH
Wapperdude

 

[broncojim]

Im not sure how that method will work with the column that actually has the
timeline bar chart. There are multiple column headings above the bar
graphics. When I select all of the quarters or months and all rows in the
column and drag the green handle to make it wider, the start and finish dates
change. Am I doing something incorrectly here?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[WapperDude]

That should work. There's nothing in the re-sizing process that should
change the dates. If you select the wrong thing, Visio usually gives you a
shape protected error message and won't allow the change. Your selection
should be just a single selection box that encompasses the entire "date - bar
chart" section.

Is this a "standard" Visio Gantt chart made thru the wizard that launches
when you 1st start a new Gantt chart?

Wapperdude

 

[broncojim]

I am not using the wizard, but rather importing data from an excel file using
the Gantt Chart menu in Visio 2003. There is no single selection box that
encompasses the entire bar chart section. You have the choice to break the
column into specified time intervals. My major units are quarters and minor
units are weeks, so the column has multiple selection boxes at the top.

Jim

 

[WapperDude]

Hi Jim --
I created a simple Gantt chart, using the form that launches when you begin
a Gantt chart drawing. Filled in names and dates. Went to the menu bar >
Gantt Chart > Export. Saved to an Excel file. Closed out the drawing,
started a new Gantt chart drawing,dismissed the initialization form, went to
menu bar ... Import. What I noticed was that it was a little trickier to
identify the entire date-bar section, but, with multiple, well placed clicks,
it is possible. Then, the resizing worked as expected without changing the
date entries. It also looks like you can left click outside the chart, hold
the mouse button down, and "lasso" the area to be selected. That also allows
you to stretch and shrink. Although Visio whines when you unselect.

HTH
Wapperdude

 

[broncojim]

I tried the lasso selection method, but the dates are still changing. Were
you using visio 2003? When say you multiple, well-placed clicks, what
section(s) are you referring to?

 

[WapperDude]

I was using V2007, but am not aware of any differences between the two
versions. I have access to V2003 and will try it.

As far as using project, it really depends. If you need to do planning as a
regular activity, probably. If doing Gantt charts is infrequent, and you
don't need all of the features/flexibility that Project provides, then, it
may not be worth the extra cost. Gantt charts isn't the main thrust of
Visio. I do them only on occassion, so, Visio is fine for me. Just the
basics, though.

Just for a sanity check. You might want to build a simple chart in Visio.
Verify that you can change the width without affecting the dates, then export
it to a file. (If nothing else, that will give you a template to compare to
the file you're importing.) Then, import the file, and see if everything
behaves as expected.

Wapperdude