EPQ Gannt Chart Tutorial, by Matt Smith on YouTube. 4 min 50 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 50 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Open a blank spreadsheet and list every EPQ task in column A, one task per row, from research to final evaluation.
Add Start date in column B and End date in column C. Type real dates like 01/10/2026 so the sheet treats them as dates, not text.
Work out the earliest start date and the latest end date across all tasks. These mark the first and last day of your chart.
In a row above the tasks, build a date row. Put the project start date in the first cell, then add 7 in the next cell and drag right to create weekly columns.
Format the date row as short dates and set the column width narrow, around 3 to 4 characters, so the chart stays compact.
For each task row, use a formula to fill the cells between its start and end date. For example, check if the column date falls between the start and end date and return a marker.
Copy the formula across the full date range for every task row. Cells inside each task's dates will show the marker and form a bar.
Select the block of marker cells and add conditional formatting so filled cells get a solid colour. Hide the marker text if you prefer clean bars.
Freeze the task name column and the date row so they stay visible when you scroll. Add a title and your name at the top.
Check each bar against its start and end dates. Update the dates as your project moves on and the chart will redraw itself.
Tips and common mistakes
Enter dates with a consistent format, or the formulas will not match and bars will disappear.
Keep one row per task and avoid merged cells, which break formulas and conditional formatting.
Add a milestone row for fixed deadlines like your submission date so you can see it against your tasks.
Save a copy before you make big changes so you can go back if a formula breaks.
Questions
Can I make this chart in Google Sheets instead of Excel?
Yes. The same layout and date formulas work in Google Sheets, and conditional formatting is under Format then Conditional formatting.
How do I show tasks that overlap?
Each task gets its own row, so overlapping tasks simply appear as bars on different rows that cover the same date columns.
What if my project runs for months?
Use weekly columns rather than daily ones. A weekly column keeps the chart readable and still shows the order of your tasks.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
