Learn/How To - Concept of Timeline in MS Project 2013

We will now see a very interesting concept of Project Management known as Timeline.

Timeline in MS Project 2013 represent duration or length for the entire Project. A Project is basically list of activities required to achieve desired result.

Incase you are interested for learning Microsoft Project tool, please refer below blogs/articles or tutorials
http://saxenablogs.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-to-create-project-in-ms-project.html
http://saxenablogs.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-to-change-start-date-for-ms-project.html
http://saxenablogs.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-to-assign-resources-in-project-in.html
http://saxenablogs.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-ot-assign-cost-resources-in-project.html
http://saxenablogs.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-to-change-start-date-for-ms-project.html
http://saxenablogs.blogspot.com/2015/04/learnhow-to-assign-material-resources.html

http://saxenablogs.blogspot.com/2015/04/learnhow-to-create-and-assign-summary.html

http://saxenablogs.blogspot.com/2015/04/learnhow-to-create-new-project-in-mpp.html 

Let us create a new Project in Ms Project 2013 with a blank and add few tasks


Now as we see there is a Timeline visible eventhough it is empty but available above tasks.

Incase this is hidden make sure in the View ->  the checkbox is selected for Timeline.



Now we are ready to add our tasks to the timeline.

Let us say we would like to add Task 1, Task 3 and Task 5. Right click on Task 1 and then choose Add to Timeline option.



Now we can notice that a very good colored line appears with text as Task 1 to the empty timeline for the Project, beauty of MS Project 2013.




Similarly we can add more task 3 and 5 by right click and thus all are added as below.



At the moment, we can see all the tasks are starting from Start date of Project onwards but we can re-arrange them as per requirement and similarly the timeline will show a different view.

So let us change the order or sequence for Task 2 and Task 3 and let us see the impact on the timeline view.


Yes, First the Gantt chart show a sequential view and then we can the relevant Tasks added in our Timeline into sequence like Task 1 and Task 3.

Thus timelines are more important and basically we use summary task in practical reality for any project.