Gannt chart - Visual Scheduling Display

[Homegrownandy]

I need an easy way to see the upcoming tasks. Ideally this would be self contained within access, but not at the expense of functionality or ease of use.



I'm at the very early stages of this part of the project so I don't have a lot of knowledge.

From what I understand I'm able to create a gantt chart template in excel that will use date information to visually display the upcoming work. That's great, its exactly what I need. I'm unsure how to implement it.

The question is: Do I need to export data and have it generate these excel reports, or can I have it done in access somehow?

Either way that I do it I'm not sure where I'm going. I imagine its quite easy to export data to work with but I don't want to be spending time on access/excel creating a solution which isn't the best one.

So if anyone has any ideas which way I should take this please let me know!

Thanks, Andy.

[June7]

Review https://www.accessforums.net/databas...ses-18459.html

[Homegrownandy]

I've followed al the links through and read everything I could. It didn't help really, I'm thinking now using excel is the best option, Ill try and link the access data to a gantt chart in excel using conditional formatting.

Thanks anyway

[orange]

There isn't a lot of practical info on Gantt charts and Access. You may find something in the links and comments in this --especially AvgJoe.
Or this one http://www.utteraccess.com/forum/ind...wtopic=1333094

[Homegrownandy]

Orange I believe I have read all of the internet today concerning gantt charts. I've seen this a few times haha.

Thanks for your reply though.

I'm probably going to purchase Gantt Chart Template Pro and use a data link from access to excel. Its fairly cheap with a lot of features.

If I can set it up to do the two week look ahead automatically that would be great. I've never linked access and excel before so I'm just playing about with that currently.

any thoughts on this?

Cheers, Andy

[orange]

No problem, always good to investigate options.
Can you get a trial version to ensure it does what you want before actual purchase?
I have not used M$oft Project for a long time 8+ yrs, so I don't know much about it now.
It seemed more detailed than I ever needed, but it did have some scheduling.

Best product I recall (mid 90's) for this sort of thing was Timeline (but I can't find a reference to it anywhere now).

There was a poster from Europe that had a demo of a Gantt chart and scheduling program in Access that was mentioned on the forums.

Good luck with your project.

[Homegrownandy]

Yea I have the trial version and it seems to work well. but there are options there that are unneeded to too detailed. Other versions are available when you buy though.

I've also emailed them to ask about easy integration with access.

I don't mind using project if it does what I want, ultimately the solution needs to work with no user input. I just want to open it, the link to the query in the database shows the next two weeks worth of jobs.

then its either visible on screen or printable.

I recognise your name and picture orange I was thinking you might have helped me on excel forums but I checked and couldn't see. I've probably just read a lot of threads you have been on. Anyway,

cheers, Andy,

[orange]

Andy,

I corrected my previous post to say I have NOT used project for over 8 years, and even then was minimal. I did use Timeline for a lot of projects, work breakdown, resource allocation and planning and project/task status.

You may find that the Product you mentioned has a User Group or Forum. If so, these can be valuable sources of info and help.

If you have project (if you are a M$oft shop), then that may be your option --but it always seemed overkill to me. (Resource estimates to 3-4 decimals etc.)

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[June7]

Did you review the link referenced in post 2?

[Homegrownandy]

Yes June,

Thanks for that, I didn't find anything useful, the example there wasn't suitable for what I want. I appreciate your time though, I'm just going to set up a template in excel. I'll link that to access, then hopefully one of the guys selling the gantt charts can easily change one of there examples to suit my needs. I don't mind paying for one if its reasonable and how I want it.

Andy.

[Homegrownandy]

Would either of you know much about the specifics of conditional formatting? I've done most of this myself and I'm at the last stage. I'm just about to ask on Ozgrid.

andy.

[orange]

There are several youtube tutorials on conditional formatting. Let us know how your efforts with Gantt charts progresses.

[Homegrownandy]

I'm planning on adding duration and sub tasks at a later date, but its not bad for a start!

The names and dates are pulled from access.

[orange]

Very nice. Great start.

Here is a link to the European Gantt stuff

Also, see the links and dialog in this Utteraccess post. You might find other related info by searching for Peter Hibbs' posts.

If you do develop some sort of generic Gantt template that could be used as a base for project management, it would be useful to others.

Good luck and keep us updated.