What is the Timeline Chart in Excel?

So, to help a project manager visualize things in Excel, we can create a timeline chart.

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How to Create a Timeline (Milestone) Chart in Excel?

Below is an example of a timeline (milestone) chart in excelChart In ExcelIn Excel, a graph or chart lets us visualize information we’ve gathered from our data. It allows us to visualize data in easy-to-understand pictorial ways. The following components are required to create charts or graphs in Excel: 1 - Numerical Data, 2 - Data Headings, and 3 - Data in Proper Order.read more.

The first thing to creating a timeline chart is to get the data ready. You need a task list with an estimated time of the task. Below is the data we have prepared for this timeline chart example.

Now, our milestone chart is ready to rock.

  • The first thing we need to do is to create a modified data table. Insert a helper column and insert the number 10 with one positive number and one negative number. Select the data, go to the “INSERT” tab, and insert an Excel “Line with Markers.” Now, right-click on the chart and choose the “Select Data” option. In the below window, remove the legend entries. Now, click on the “Add” button. In the below window for “Series Name”, enter “Date”, and for “Series Values”, select task list. Now, click on “OK.” Then, in the same window, click on the “Edit” option on the right-hand side, “Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels.” In the below selection window, choose date values. Click on “OK.” Now, click the “Add” button in the same window again. Now, in the next window, enter “Helper” for “Series name,” and for “Series values,” choose helper column values. After all this, we need to do some formatting touches. Now, click on the line chart and press the shortcut key “Ctrl + 1” to open the “Format Data Series” option to the right of the chart. Go to the “Fill” and “Line” options. Then, under the “Line” option, select the “No line” option. Click on the “Design” tab with the same selection. Then, under the “Design” tab, go to “Add Chart Elements.” Under “Add Chart Elements,” go to “Error Bars” in Excel and choose “More Error Bars Options.” As soon as you click on “More Error Bars Options,” it will open up a formatting option to the right side again. Click on “Error Bar Options,” select direction as “Minus,” and “Error amount percentage” as “100%.” Now we have a chart like this. Select the horizontal flat line chart and make this a “Secondary Axis.” Now, delete the “Secondary Axis” vertical values. Next, “Add Data Labels” to the chart. Selecting data labels, press “Ctrl + 1” to open the formatting window. From the formatting window, select “Category Name.” Select the chart and click the “Select Data” option. For example, in the below window, choose “Helper” and click on the “Edit” option. For “Axis label range,” choose an “Estimated Date.” Select “Dot” data labels and make this data label “Values From Cells.” For example, choose values from A2 to A9. Now, select the “Dot” and choose the “Marker Option” to make this a delta shapes marker with black color.

Things to Remember

  • The timeline chart (milestone) is not the built-in Excel chart, so we must follow all the above steps to create our chart.It is a simple visualization technique to track all your project schedules.It does not seem easy because of formatting techniques. But, the more time you spend on this, the more comfortable you will be.

This article has been a guide to Timeline Chart in Excel. Here, we discuss how to create a timeline (milestone) chart in Excel with the help of an example and a downloadable Excel template. You can learn more from the following articles: –

  • Panel Chart in ExcelBullet Chart in ExcelAnimation Chart in ExcelDot Plots in Excel