I downloaded what I believe to be a MS Excel project timeline template (.xlsx). There's a table at the bottom and a corresponding (reactive) timeline with milestones above that is populated by inserted table date, title, width information.



All was proceeding swimmingly until I added a goodly number of table data points (lines). When I scrolled up to the timeline image after a while, it was 'scrunched' to fit 1 page wide. I've never run into a situation like this. I've always had to involve page break preview and page setup to control the 'normal' expansion of sheets both across and down.

There must? be 'something' in this sheet that's restricting the timeline to 1 page. I need to release that restriction but have no clue where to look?

[Start edit] I forced the page layout to 100%. No change in the page break preview--still 1 page. I then clicked on the chart image of the timeline, grabbed the lower right corner and expanded the chart to where the text was no longer scrunched and was clearly readable. I went back to page break and still 1 page.

Is it therefore not possible for a chart image to involve more than 1 page wide? That just doesn't seem right. There's surely tons of instances where folks have huge data sets that require multiple pages of chart representation?


Mark

Can you upload the template with some data?

Sure--

I've entered 'Test n' for each of my timeline's current milestone descriptions. All other instances of the sheet remain the same.

Mark

Attached Files

Timeline with milestones_Upload Test.xlsx (19.4 KB, 13 views)

In the attached I inserted a page break somewhere between Test 19 and Test 20. Can't be exact as the tests in the image don't align with cell borders. Please remember that you can only set page breaks when you are in a cell outside the image.

I am not quite sure if this is of any help however.

By the way - I think the Project Timeline in the attached is just a newer version of the one you provided.

Attached Files

ProjectTimeline.xlsx (25.2 KB, 11 views)

Big help but more questions, largely my lack of chart knowledge. I'll # for clarity.

1. The entire sheet now has a black background color vs. MS' that had none. I clicked on the upper left corner (all), then ribbon\font\fill\none. This resulted in the background color going none but also wiped out all the chart text. Obviously, I chose the wrong method to eliminate background color?

2. Your sheet has an 'assigned to' data field that is not needed. If I clear the contents of the column the space still appears on the chart. I can't delete the column, it'll mess with the chart?

3. I did as you said and added another page break. However, if I do the same in my timeline version (view, page break preview, right click cell just under chart where I want the break, click insert page break) no page break line appears?

4. On my version timeline, the default (and the way I would like to see it) displays all dates vs. yours being selected. Additionally, the default style for my dates is angled, allowing them to fit. Where can I change that view setting? I've right clicked the date image rectangle and tried several of the click options but cannot find an obvious method to change the date appearance?

If this turns into too much of a PITA, I can go back to my version and create individual worksheets for whatever number of activities easily fit on one page then print out whatever number of worksheets are then required.

Mark

The attached is also from Microsoft - see at this link (at the bottom):

https://templates.office.com/en-us/P...ine-TM00000005

1. White text on white background becomes invisible.

2. Not sure what you mean.

3. But what happens if you actually make a print out?

4. I use Excel 2016 so it may be different for you if you use another version, but I did as follows:

- Click the x-axis
- Format axis
- Text Options
- Labels
- Specify interval unit: 1
- Label Position: Low

Size and Properties
- Text direction: Horizontal
- Custom angle: 36 (change as you like)

Attached Files

ProjectTimeline_2.xlsx (27.5 KB, 10 views)

Thanks for the link but the timeline we're using is just the flavor I'm looking for.

1. Your current attachment is precisely what I was trying to do. White (or no color) background with black text as was my original template I had uploaded. For whatever reason the template you had attached to your initial reply was all black with white text.

2. These are the table headers below the chart of the chart you had initially sent and the currently attached (which I suspect is the same one with the fill and dates adjusted):
Date Milestone Assigned To Position

My earlier version only had the following columns:
Date Milestone Position

I had cleared contents of the assigned to column (as indicated on your attached timeline). Therefore, there's an added blank line above or below the milestone names since the chart is still reading the now cleared data column cells (since I hadn't deleted the column for obvious reasons and didn't know how to have the chart not include the column).

3. I'm on my laptop at the gym. I just printed my original timeline to pdf. There's no break. The entire chart is on 1 page as if it fits--which it doesn't--weird. Not an issue since I'll use your newer timeline version.

4. We're using the same Excel version. I'm using Office 365 which I presume is 16. When I get home I'll play around with your formatting suggestions and likely be back.

Mark

1. It is the template at the link I gave. I had just changed the background color to white and the text color to black.

If you prefer the template you first uploaded I attach here this version with page break inserted before column K (you can catch a glimpse of the blue page break line in cell K2.

Please note that in Page Setup, Page I have put a 2 in Fit to (you may have to adjust).

Attached Files

Timeline with milestones.xlsx (20.2 KB, 10 views)

To get a few chart basics straight--

1. To change any formatting within the 'spreadsheet' that is below the chart--click that area, then use the 'normal' Home/Font or Alignment or...?

2. To change formatting within the chart--click the element you wish to format within the chart (axis, label, field or) then the ribbon automatically changes providing either Design or Format under Chart Tools?

If the preceding is correct, then I give up finding (for milestone names) where the font, font color, point size, all caps, etc is located in either Design or Format?

Mark

In the attached I have changed Milestone names font to red by:

Clicking for example on TEST 11
Right click and select Format Data Labels
Select Text Options
Solid fill
Select color

Under Format, Shape Styles you can change to proper text, remove outline etc.

By the way - the reason that I used the other template was that there with this one seems to be a problem with some data labels (TEST 1,2,3,4,5,6,8, 9 and 10 are missing), at least on my system.

Attached Files

Timeline with milestones_2.xlsx (20.3 KB, 10 views)

With a lot of activities/milestones of varying data length a spreadsheet template is proving to be a huge PITA to maintain formatting. Label locations have to be constantly altered (to keep from running into each other) as data changes/are added while certain vector lines from the axis to a label tend to get obliterated requiring further formatting which in turn has a knock on effect.

Frankly, a simple spreadsheet list: date, label is probably where I'm ending up.

Thanks again for the help.

Mark

I take no responsibility for the template.

I only tried to help you out with some issues regarding a template you had chosen yourself.

Don't misunderstand--I was simply stating a fact of my status. You assisted with my choice and I do appreciate the effort.

Mark