3. Drawing on a Gantt Chart
Project includes a Drawing tool with which you can draw objects
directly on the chart portion of a Gantt chart. For example, if you
would like to note a particular event or graphically call out a
specific item, you can draw objects, such as text boxes, arrows, and
other items, directly on a Gantt chart. You can also link a drawn
object to either end of a Gantt bar or to a specific date on the
timescale. Here’s how to choose the type of link you need:
-
Link objects to a Gantt bar when the object is specific to
the task that the Gantt bar represents. The object will move with
the Gantt bar if the task is rescheduled.
-
Link objects to a date when the information the object
refers to is date-sensitive. The object will remain in the same
position relative to the timescale no matter which part of the
timescale is displayed.
In this exercise, you add a text box to the Gantt Chart
view.
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Scroll the Gantt Chart view to the top of the table so task
0 is visible.
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On the Format tab, in the
Drawings group, click Drawing.
The menu of drawing objects appears. This includes all the
built-in shapes that you can draw, plus other commands for
formatting shapes.
-
Click Text Box, and then
drag a small box anywhere on the chart portion of the Gantt Chart
view.
-
In the box that you just drew, type Morale event Jan. 19.
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On the Format tab, in the
Drawings group, click Drawing, and then click Properties.
The Format Drawing dialog box appears.
Tip
You can also double-click the border of the text box to
view its properties.
-
Make sure the Line &
Fill tab is displayed, and in the Color box under the Fill label, click yellow.
Next, you’ll attach the text box to a specific date on the
timescale.
-
Click the Size &
Position tab.
-
Make sure that Attach To
Timescale is selected, and in the Date box, type or click 1/19/12.
-
In the Vertical box under
Attach To Timescale, type
.5 (this is the number of
inches below the timescale where the top of the box will be
positioned), and then click OK
to close the Format Drawing
dialog box.
Project colors the text box yellow and positions it below
the timescale near the date you specified.
-
Click in an empty area of the Gantt Chart view to unselect
the text box.
Because you attached the text box to a specific date on the
timescale, it will always appear near this date even if you zoom
the timescale in or out or scroll the chart left or right. Had you
attached the text box to a Gantt bar, it would move with the Gantt
bar if the task were rescheduled.
