Within the framework of our series of tutorials explaining in detail different aspects of building a Gantt chart in Qlik Sense, we are glad to share a new quick visual manual. This one describes how to color a Project Gantt chart in the AnyGantt extension for Qlik Gantt charts.

Join us as in this tutorial we are going to make it completely clear how to color all main parts of Project Gantt charts: elements, chart area, table cells, table header, and timeline levels. In addition, you can see tutorials about labels, tooltips, and reference lines and ranges — they can also be colored. (Those about tooltips and reference lines and ranges are coming soon. Meanwhile, check out the AnyGantt extension’s documentation or ask our support engineers for assistance.)

For your convenience, this tutorial is available in two versions. Check it out as a video with a voice over (embedded right below). Or keep reading the alternative, text+pictures version.

Default Look

Here is how the Qlik Gantt chart powered by our AnyGantt extension for Qlik Sense looks like by default:

Default Qlik Gantt chart

Coloring Elements

You can set the default fill and stroke colors of an element of a Project Gantt chart in just a couple of clicks.

In the properties panel, go to “Appearance” and choose “Defaults“. Click an element to open its settings.

For example, you can configure actual bars:

Coloring actual bars in a Gantt chart in Qlik Sense

Use the “Fill” option to set the fill color, “Stroke” to set the stroke color, and “Thickness” to set the thickness of the stroke.

Colored actual bars in a Gantt chart in Qlik Sense

You can also set colors of milestones and dimension bars, in the same way.

To set the stroke color and the thickness of connectors, in the properties panel go to “Add-ons“, then “Connectors“. After that, use the “Color” and “Stroke thickness” options.

Custom color design in a Gantt chart in Qlik Sense

In case you are interested in more advanced options of coloring Qlik Gantt chart elements, we will also share the “Colors of Elements” tutorial soon. It will explain, among other things, how to color elements by expression; in the meantime, to learn about that, we invite you to the Color by Expression section of the AnyGantt extension’s documentation.

Coloring Table Cells and Chart Area

The table on the left of the Gantt chart displays text information.

Table in Gantt charts in Qlik Sense

You can color its cells, and the same colors will be automatically applied to the chart area — the area where elements are displayed.

Table and chart area in a Gantt chart in Qlik Sense

In the properties panel, go to “Appearance“, then “Table“, then “Cells“.

Choosing the color fill type in Qlik Gantt

Select the fill type from the “Fill type” drop-down menu. The available options include: “Solid“, “Hierarchy“, and “Odd/even“.

Solid fill is applied to all rows. Go to “Background” and use the “Fill” and “Opacity” options to set their fill color and opacity. Note that the color you set affects not only the table, but also the chart area.

Solid fill in a Gantt chart in Qlik Sense

Hierarchy fill is applied only to rows displaying hierarchical dimensions. As you can see, the color you choose in the “Background” section automatically adjusts to mark different levels of the hierarchy.

Hierarchy fill in a Gantt chart in Qlik Sense

If you choose the odd/even fill type, in the “Background” section you can set two different colors: one for odd rows and another for even rows.

Odd/even fill in a Gantt chart in Qlik Sense

To color the font, go to “Font” and use the “Color” option.

Applying custom font colot in a Gantt chart in Qlik Sense

Coloring Table Header

The header on the top of the table displays titles of its columns.

Qlik Sense Gantt Table Header

You can color its background and font.

To open the settings of the header, in the properties panel go to “Appearance” –> “Table” –> “Header“.

Gantt chart table header background color settings

To color the background, go to “Background” and use the “Fill” and “Opacity” options.

A Gantt chart with colored table header background

To color the font, go to “Font” and use the “Color” option.

A Gantt chart with colored table header font

Coloring Timeline Levels

A timeline is a set of rows, or levels, above the chart area, where dates are displayed.

Qlik Sense Gantt Chart Timeline

Timeline levels are configured individually. For each of them, you can set the background and font colors.

To open the settings of a level, go to “Appearance” –> “Timeline” in the properties panel.

Settings of the timeline in a Qlik Sense Gantt chart

Then select one of the levels: “Top level“, “Middle level“, or “Bottom level“.

Let’s select the top level first. To set the fill color of a level, use the “Fill” option. To color the font, go to “Font” and use the “Color” option.

Coloring the top level of the timeline in a Qlik Sense Gantt chart

Now, let’s color the middle and bottom levels:

Coloring the middle and bottom levels of the timeline in a Qlik Sense Gantt chart

Colored Qlik Gantt Chart

Now all main parts of the Project Gantt chart are colored! Take a look:

Colored Gantt chart in Qlik Sense

Questions?

Still have questions about how to customize Gantt charts in Qlik Sense in terms of color when you are using the AnyGantt extension for data visualization and analytics in project management? Do not hesitate to ask in the comments below or get in touch with our Support Team directly at support@anychart.com.

Looking for more charts for Qlik Sense? In total, we have 39 chart types available for you in the three intuitive Qlik Sense extensions launched within the framework of our partnership with Qlik. Even more charts and features are coming soon.