Timeline template - how to Customize

[hlskov]

I wish to create a timeline in excel as a way to gain overview of multiple projects. The timeline template in excel is fine if you only need to keep track of one project, but is there a way to create and overview which displays "multiple" timelines in one view? So you can compare? And is it possible to have the timeline "dots" appear in a way, which visually reflects the time between milestones in a better way? As far as I can see, the milestones just spread evenly on the timeline, eventhough there might be more weeks between some of them than others. I hope someone can help guide me in how to solve these to things, if it is possible. Thanks in advance.

 

[Teapotlid]

I've done something that looks a little like a GANTT chart before. Is that the type if thing you're after?
In the rows I put the description, the start & the end date. For the columns I put the first day of the week in the column headers (I only put a date in the first column heading & just add 7 days to the left cell date cell for each of the next headings to the right).
In the GANTT I then use If functions to compare the week number of this element of the project & compare it to the week number of the column heading. If the project starts in the week of the column then the cell is highlighted and each subsequent column is also highlighted until you reach the end date.
I get the If function to deliver a word which I then use as a flag to highlight the cell via conditional formatting.
Using the word like this you can make the cell a different color based on other factors (importance of this element, whether it's started, stalled, or completed etc)

 

[hlskov]

Hi,
many thanks for the reply. I can try to look into what you suggest. However I am looking for a more visual way of displaying it via the actual Excel Timeline template.
https://templates.office.com/en-za/Project-timeline-with-milestones-TM00000009
As you can see in the link, when using the timeline, the data you insert - like the dates - will spread evenly on the line. This means they will not indicate the distance between things visually (based on the actual data), you will have to create your own "pattern", it does not place your dates/dots according to the actual interval between things.
Thanks again

I've done something that looks a little like a GANTT chart before. Is that the type if thing you're after?
In the rows I put the description, the start & the end date. For the columns I put the first day of the week in the column headers (I only put a date in the first column heading & just add 7 days to the left cell date cell for each of the next headings to the right).
In the GANTT I then use If functions to compare the week number of this element of the project & compare it to the week number of the column heading. If the project starts in the week of the column then the cell is highlighted and each subsequent column is also highlighted until you reach the end date.
I get the If function to deliver a word which I then use as a flag to highlight the cell via conditional formatting.
Using the word like this you can make the cell a different color based on other factors (importance of this element, whether it's started, stalled, or completed etc)