A Gantt chart illustrates the breakdown structure of the project by showing the start and finish dates as well as various relationships between project activities, and in this way helps you track the tasks against their scheduled time or predefined milestones. To create a timeline, a Gantt chart can be used as a management tool. Many project management applications can be used to create them, including Excel and Microsoft Project. To create a timeline, click View in MS Project and then select the Timeline in the Timeline box. Project provides a lot of flexibility in the way that Gantt bars are displayed in the Gantt Chart view. You can: Change the color, shape, or pattern of Gantt bars. Create a new type of Gantt bar, such as one that shows available slack or delayed tasks. Add text to Gantt bars. Display task names for individual Gantt bars on a summary task bar.