Create an Excel Timeline Smart Graphic
Excel has a premade graphic you can use to create a timeline in Excel. This graphic is part of Excel’s SmartArt collection and is very easy to use. The SmartArt timeline is a simple method of creating a general timeline that you can insert anywhere into an Excel sheet. However, it doesn’t allow you to dynamically label each point using a range in your worksheet. You need to manually enter the label for each timeline point. Because of this, SmartArt timelines are best for shorter timelines. SmartArt timelines in Excel are perfect for creating very quick, small timelines that you can use to track simple projects or any plan that involves a limited number of events. However, if you’re managing a larger project with a long list of tasks, or if you’re using an older version of Excel, the Scatter Plot timeline described below may be a better option.
Create an Excel Timeline From a Scatter Plot
If you have an older version of Excel, you’re not out of luck. There’s an advanced method you can use to turn scatter plots into well formatted timelines. The Scatter Plot in excel lets you plot dots in sequential order in a chart. Because of this, it makes an ideal platform for you to order items in a straight line, organized by date. By formatting the scatter plot properly, you can transform it into a useful timeline graphic that dynamically changes based on the tasks and dates in your original project spreadsheet. This process takes a little more time than the timeline option above, but in the end you can better customize it to suit your purposes.
