Forum Discussion
JRivett
May 17, 2024Copper Contributor
More than 10 bars in timeline bar
I am using Project to manage a program of works with circa 80 individual projects. The timeline feature is an effective way to summarise project status at a high level but I cannot work out how to ad...
- May 20, 2024
Man you must have a pretty slick time machine that you're using Project 2029 already. I guess Microsoft will still be around for at least another 5 years 🙂
Thanks for the screen shot of your high level program file. You mention that the stakeholders want a high level of status of each project. Graphics are a nice visual but a well structured tabular format can sometime be better depending on what program metrics are important to them. You might want to ask them what data is of most interest.
Meanwhile, here is a graphical workaround similar to the Timeline. It doesn't have as much annotation functionality but the visual elements are there and can be used to show more than 10 projects.
Set it up this way:
1. Go to, Gantt Chart Format > Bar Styles group > Format > Bar Styles
2. Set up a new Gantt bar style for each project phase (e.g. Feasibility, Consultant, Documentation, etc.). In my example I show 2 elements (Phase 1, Phase 2) but you can have up to 20, one Flag for each element. Note, I set up the bar to show the task Name field inside the bar and I deleted the bulk of Gantt bar styles that are not needed.
3. Once the bar styles are set up apply those to your program file as shown in the example file. Note, you also need to set the Rollup and Hide Bar fields as shown for each project.
4. To create a stakeholders display, set up a filter to isolate each project's summary line. One convenient way to do that is to use the Marked field as shown and create a custom filter or use the AutoFilter to isolate all projects for display.
When the filter is applied, this is the result:
Hope this helps.
John
JRivett
May 19, 2024Copper Contributor
Hi John
Thanks for your response!
I'm using Microsoft Project Professional 2029.
I manage a program of works for which I have a single high level program that lists each project (refer snip below).
I have a stakeholder group that require a high level summary of the status of each project and I the information in the timeline is good for this.
Is there a better way that I could be doing this?
Regards,
James
John-project
May 20, 2024Silver Contributor
Man you must have a pretty slick time machine that you're using Project 2029 already. I guess Microsoft will still be around for at least another 5 years 🙂
Thanks for the screen shot of your high level program file. You mention that the stakeholders want a high level of status of each project. Graphics are a nice visual but a well structured tabular format can sometime be better depending on what program metrics are important to them. You might want to ask them what data is of most interest.
Meanwhile, here is a graphical workaround similar to the Timeline. It doesn't have as much annotation functionality but the visual elements are there and can be used to show more than 10 projects.
Set it up this way:
1. Go to, Gantt Chart Format > Bar Styles group > Format > Bar Styles
2. Set up a new Gantt bar style for each project phase (e.g. Feasibility, Consultant, Documentation, etc.). In my example I show 2 elements (Phase 1, Phase 2) but you can have up to 20, one Flag for each element. Note, I set up the bar to show the task Name field inside the bar and I deleted the bulk of Gantt bar styles that are not needed.
3. Once the bar styles are set up apply those to your program file as shown in the example file. Note, you also need to set the Rollup and Hide Bar fields as shown for each project.
4. To create a stakeholders display, set up a filter to isolate each project's summary line. One convenient way to do that is to use the Marked field as shown and create a custom filter or use the AutoFilter to isolate all projects for display.
When the filter is applied, this is the result:
Hope this helps.
John
- luissoares1055Sep 19, 2024Copper Contributor
Although your answered helped me a lot to improve my project, I really need to be able to have more than 10 Timeline Bars.
I also need the ability to sort them.
Depending on the audience I am addressing I need to show some timelines but not all.
- John-projectSep 19, 2024Silver Contributorluissoares1055,
Sorry, but 10 is the limit on timeline bars. For that I suggest you submit a suggestion via the Project feedback portal:
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/forum/40792262-301c-ec11-b6e7-0022481f8472.
John- luissoares1055Sep 19, 2024Copper Contributor
John-project, Done. Thanks!
- JRivettMay 22, 2024Copper Contributor
Thanks John! This looks like exactly what I need. I haven't had a chance to work through it yet, but will give it a go. Thanks for your help.
James
- John-projectMay 22, 2024Silver ContributorJames,
You're welcome and thanks for the feedback.
John