Efficient Project Planning Online with Gantt Charts

Mindomo allows you to easily create professional-looking Gantt charts, even if you are a beginner. Given the blank chart template, it’s quite easy and fast to understand how to create and use this diagram type.

Open the template, add your tasks, and fill out the predefined structure. The bars will be automatically placed on the timeline to give you a visual perspective of your tasks.

A Gantt chart is a project management tool used to plan, schedule, and track project tasks. Its main components are:

• on the chart’s left side, a vertical list of activities involved in the project;
  
• on top of the chart, a horizontal timeline showing the days, weeks, or months of the project;
  
• on the right side of the chart, below the timeline, horizontal markers for each task (its duration, start and end dates);
  
• dependencies showing a certain order in which tasks will be completed;
  
• assignees responsible for completing each task;
  
• milestone, completion, and priority details.

Do you know why Gantt charts are often a more accessible option than project management software? Because they provide an easy-to-read interpretation of planned activity against a certain time frame.
Use a Gantt chart to get a time-centric, resource-driven insight into your project’s progress:

• At a glance, all tasks and subtasks appear in relation to their assignees;
  
• You know the duration of each task, all task dependencies, and the total amount of time needed to finish the entire project. So, adjusting schedules if any delays occur will be easier.
  
• You can keep an eye on the progress and celebrate each milestone at a time.

The critical path will become clear - what needs to be done and by when so that the project’s overarching goals are reached.

No matter the industry, as long as you handle a time-bound project, using Gantt files will make a difference.

Software developers can plot all software development life cycle phases (planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance) to deliver quality products on time.

Educators can use this tool for curriculum planning, research planning, internship worksheets, and assessment tasks while keeping a calendar view of summer vacations and holidays.

Marketers can map out all the steps of their campaign (audience research, intended strategy, content type and format, content promotion, and engagement evaluation) against the campaign’s time frame.

Event planners can use Gantt file frameworks to successfully bring together clients and partners on the roadmap of their events.

In manufacturing, a Gantt tool can help with planning, implementing, and monitoring production processes.

In construction, this chart will enclose all major phases of a construction project, time-bound, so that the people involved can refer to - engineers, architects, subcontractors, service providers, clients, etc.

The main reason you are looking for project management software or mind map software (also a great solution) is to simplify work. When you have a complex project, the simplest way to plan it is to break it into pieces. Start by dividing the big goal into manageable tasks and subtasks and save precious time.

A huge advantage of using Mindomo is that you can make a Gantt chart starting from a mind map (learn more about how to make a mind map). Compared to a regular chart maker like MS Project, Mindomo lets you create many graphic representations.
Start by brainstorming to gather information, then create a mind map diagram, and with just one click, turn the diagram into a Gantt chart.

A Gantt chart in Excel is just a table, while Mindomo includes various visual representations: mind maps, concept maps, and outlines. Turn any of them into Gantt files and vice versa.

For example, there are many business mind maps that you can use as a starting point in your business projects.

You have multiple options to schedule tasks using Mindomo:

◼ add a start date and an end date for each task;

◼ add a start date and the duration to each task;

◼ add dependencies between tasks;

Task dependencies will show how tasks overlap and relate to one another. Some task executions rely on completing previous tasks, while others are independent and can be carried out simultaneously.
Visualizing and understanding these dependencies is critical for project success.

From plan to execution and the people responsible of each step, it’s all here. You can brainstorm, collaborate, and more on the same infinite canvas, without losing the smallest detail.

On the left side, there’s a table similar to an Excel chart containing all the tasks and their assigness, milestones, start and end dates, completion, and priority level.
On the right side, you have a visual representation of your ongoing roject.

Creating your charts online is easy, but when you work remotely or don’t have access to an internet connection, things change. Mindomo has the best of both worlds: offline and online chart creation.

Work offline and sync all your work afterward with just one click. Once the internet connection is restored, all editings are instantly synchronized. Mindomo gives you all the flexibility you need for planning, implementing, and monitoring projects.

◼ Set a schedule: add task due dates for better time tracking. Use the calendar and the “Duration” column will be automatically updated.

◼ Automatic project scheduling: unlike a Gantt file in Excel, Mindomo offers a visual representation of task bars that are automatically updated if you set new start and end dates.

◼ Set milestones: consider them as signposts that keep things on track. You will see them as diamond-shaped checkpoints marking when activities have been completed or a new phase is launched.

◼ Connecting tasks: identifying task dependencies will help you streamline task execution, and ensure a well-maintained project schedule.

◼ Assign tasks: distribute the tasks. Being an efficient project planning software, Mindomo allows you to assign every task to one or more team members.

◼ Change view mode: create a Gantt chart starting from a mind map, concept map, or outline. Convert any of these into another. Make the most out of the structure flexibility.

◼ Collaborate real-time: work together with your team and see all updates instantly.

◼ Discuss live: save precious time by using the built-in chat room.

◼ Add comments: keep all meaningful explanations in one place, right where you need them.

◼ Attach files: upload multimedia files on the comment panel from your computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Add any piece of information that helps.

◼ Email notifications: benefit from email notifications that keep you up-to-date with everything. Enable them for any task updates, new comments, or task progress.

◼ Online-offline synchronization: unlike regular online Gantt chart software, Mindomo can be used offline, and with one click you can sync all your work. Save precious time and be productive anytime.

◼ Export options: you can export your Gantt file in mind map formats, Microsoft Excel formats, or multiple other formats like PDF, DOCX, TXT, OPML, MXP, or XML.

Mindomo is a freemium Gantt chart software. All you need to do to try it is to sign up for free. Go to the Dashboard, click on “Create”, and select the Gantt file template.

Make the most out of Mindomo’s functionalities. You will be able to create simple Gantt files in minutes and stay productive. Find out more about it in this video: