---
title: "Using the Gantt Chart for Project Scheduling in Ontraccr"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/using-the-gantt-chart-for-project-scheduling-in-ontraccr"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-06-06T23:32:19.634Z"
---

# Using the Gantt Chart for Project Scheduling in Ontraccr

## 📅 **Using the Gantt Chart for Project Scheduling in Ontraccr Overview**  
 

The **Gantt Chart tab** in Ontraccr allows you to create and manage a **project schedule** based on real tasks and milestones.

It’s where you **design the phases** of a job — either by **adding tasks manually** or **uploading a Microsoft Gantt file** — and structure the overall flow of work.

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## 🎯 **Why Use the Gantt Chart?**

-   Define and manage your project’s **timeline**
-   Lay out important **phases, milestones, or activities**
-   Create a clear, centralized **schedule** for your team to reference

The Gantt Chart is not for cost tracking or invoicing — it’s purely for **planning and scheduling**.

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## 🧩 **Key Concepts**

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### 📄 **Tasks = Scheduling Units**

Each task represents a specific activity, milestone, or work phase (e.g., "Framing", "Electrical Rough-In", "Final Inspection").

You can build your schedule using tasks that are either:

-   **Created manually**
-   **Imported from a Microsoft Gantt file (.xml)**

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### ➕ **Adding Tasks Manually**

1.  Navigate to the **Gantt** tab inside your project
2.  Click **Add Task**
3.  Enter:
    -   **Task Name**
    -   **Start Date**
    -   **End Date**

✅ Tasks are added to the timeline and ordered by date

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### 📥 **Importing from Microsoft Gantt**

If your schedule has already been prepared in Microsoft Project:

1.  Click the **Import** button
2.  Upload a **.xml Gantt file**
3.  Ontraccr will automatically:
    -   Extract the task list
    -   Populate the start and end dates
    -   Build the visual timeline based on the imported data

✅ This helps streamline onboarding large, complex schedules

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## 📈 **Managing the Gantt Chart**

-   You can **add and edit tasks manually** as your project evolves
-   Use the chart to visualize how the overall job is structured over time
-   Tasks are arranged chronologically across the timeline
-   If you need to update your plan, you can modify tasks directly

🧠 The Gantt chart is designed for **schedule visualization**, not task management or dependencies.

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## ✅ **Example Scenario**

You’re planning a school renovation:

-   You manually add 10 tasks including Demolition, Framing, Inspections, HVAC Install
-   You set start and end dates for each phase
-   You adjust the task list as the project plan changes week-to-week

Your team can now refer to a clean, centralized timeline to stay aligned

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## 🚀 **Summary**

The Gantt Chart in Ontraccr is your tool for **building out project timelines** using simple task structures.

Whether you start from scratch or import a prepared file, it gives your team a clear picture of what needs to happen — and when.