Project (time) management in numbers?

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Level 2

420 points

Project (time) management in numbers?

Hi all,
I am setting up a few spreadsheets for next year's students projects and I was wondering if it possible to use the charts to show start and end dates for individual projects.
At the moment the chart always starts at zero and goes up to a set value. Is there a way to have a bar in a chart start above "zero"?

And slightly off-topic, any recommendations for a simple project/time management?
Something that would allow me to set up a grid (by week) and have bars (projects) start and stop at certain times? Something like MS Project, but simple and free would be a bonus 😉

cheers

2x 2.4GHz 2Gb RAM 15"MBPs, Mac OS X (10.5.4), flat silver boxes, mighty mouse

Posted on Nov 7, 2008 12:52 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 7, 2008 12:17 PM in response to i.3d

I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for with the spreadsheet... basically just bar charts that could simulate a Gantt chart or timeline? Like so (pretend that underscores are spaces and pluses are the bars; Apple discussions ignore multiple spaces so I can't get the look I'm going for...):

++++++++
___ ++++++++++
__ +++++
__________ +++++++++

Regarding project/time management software, I have two that could perhaps be a great solution for you:
- Gantt Project: http://ganttproject.biz/
- Open Proj: http://openproj.org/openproj (see download link lower on the left side - you'd want the Mac PPC/x86 Binary from that link)

Hope these help!

-John

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Answer 2

i.3d Author

Level 2

420 points

Nov 7, 2008 5:01 PM in response to John Hendy

Thanks. That's exactly what I was looking for.
I did find the GanttProject in the mean time and it's great (if you like simple).
Will have a go at the openproject now.
Thanks again.
BTW, is it possible to emulate the gantt (a new work I just learned!) chart in Numbers?

cheers

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Answer 3

Nov 7, 2008 5:24 PM in response to i.3d

Glad the applications may be of some use. I did some digging for you and found these references for Numbers gantt charts:
- http://www.numberstemplates.com/2007/10/06/template-project-template-with-gantt- chart-for-apple-iwork-numbers/
- http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1732453&start=0&tstart=0 (check the picture posted and try to follow the directions)
- http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5130743 (similar to the above concept)

And if you're not limited to Numbers and can use either Excel or OpenOffice ( http://www.openoffice.org/) which is my preferred office suite at the moment, give these a whirl:
- http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2008/05/10/simple-gantt-chart/
- http://woork.blogspot.com/2008/02/project-management-excel-gantt-chart.html

Good luck!

-John

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