Gantt chart guide
Plan a clear, connected project schedule
A useful Gantt chart combines a structured work breakdown, realistic working dates and logical task relationships. This guide explains the concepts used by the editor above.
How to create a Gantt chart
Start with the project start date, then add deliverables and activities in the task table. Indent detailed activities beneath summary tasks, enter durations in working days, connect related work with predecessors and add milestones for important decision or completion dates.
What is a Gantt chart?
A Gantt chart is a time-based view of project activities. The task list explains what must be done, while horizontal bars show when each activity starts, finishes and overlaps with other work. Milestones identify significant zero-duration events.
How task dependencies work
A dependency links the timing of one activity to another. Enter a predecessor task ID in the table or drag a connector from one bar to another. When a predecessor moves, CalcsBay reschedules its dependent tasks while preserving their durations and working calendar.
FS vs SS vs FF vs SF dependencies
Finish-to-Start (FS) starts the successor after the predecessor finishes. Start-to-Start (SS) links their starts. Finish-to-Finish (FF) links their finishes, and Start-to-Finish (SF) links a successor finish to a predecessor start. Add lag with 3FS+2d or lead with 5SS-1d.
What is a milestone?
A milestone is a zero-duration point that marks an approval, handover, deadline or other important project event. It appears as a diamond and can use the same dependency types as regular tasks.
How to use critical path
Enable Critical Path to identify activities whose delay would move the project finish. Critical tasks and their connecting dependency lines are highlighted. Resolve invalid dates, missing predecessors or circular logic before relying on the result.
How to save and reopen your Gantt chart
Save / Export downloads a versioned .calcsbay-gantt.json file containing project details, tasks, WBS levels, dependencies, progress, calendar and baseline. Use Open / Import later to restore the complete project locally.
How to export a Gantt chart to PDF
Choose A4 or A3, portrait or landscape, the task-table view or Gantt only, then select the project date range and scaling. CalcsBay creates the PDF directly in your browser, including the actual task bars and dependency lines.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CalcsBay Gantt Chart Creator free?
Yes. The editor, local project files, baseline, critical path calculation and PDF export are free to use without registration.
Where is my project data stored?
Your active draft is stored only in your browser for recovery. Exported project files are downloaded directly to your device, and schedule data is not sent to a server.
Can I reopen a Gantt chart later?
Yes. Export a .calcsbay-gantt.json project file, then use Open / Import to restore tasks, hierarchy, dependencies, calendar settings, progress and baseline data.
Which dependency types are supported?
The editor supports Finish-to-Start (FS), Start-to-Start (SS), Finish-to-Finish (FF) and Start-to-Finish (SF), including positive lag and negative lead in working days.
Does the schedule exclude weekends?
By default, Monday through Friday are working days. Project settings can enable Saturday or Sunday work and add specific holidays or other non-working dates.
Can I export the actual Gantt chart to PDF?
Yes. The browser generates a vector PDF containing the task table and Gantt chart, or the chart alone, with selectable paper size, orientation, range and scaling.
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