Let's build your first Gantt chart! When you first open your chart, you may see only a few checkmarks, or an empty grid. Tasks that only have a due date are shown as a checkmark. Tasks without any dates yet, get an empty row.

To plan a task over several days, right-click its empty row, and choose Add Time Block. Pick a color, and there's your time block, with its Start and End dates right next to the task. To move it to other days, drag the middle of the block.

Need more time? Drag its right edge.

Already have a due date? Right-click the checkmark, choose Convert to Time Block, and the checkmark becomes a block.

To set when the work starts, drag its left edge.

Does one task have to wait for another? Right-click the first one, choose Add Dependency, and click the task that waits.

Running late? Drag the first task, and everything that depends on it moves along.

Only need a deadline after all? Right-click the time block, choose Convert to Due Date, and it's a checkmark again.

Want key dates to stand out? Right-click the checkmark, and pick an icon, like a flag for launch day.

Want to see which work belongs together? Right-click a block, and give it its own color.

Then, name that color in the legend, so everyone reading your chart knows what it stands for.

Do the same for the rest of your tasks, and your project becomes a Gantt chart, a plan you can see at a glance.

Create your first Gantt chart

Ready to dive in?