A SimpleGantt chart lives in the workbook. Sharing it means sharing the file: email it, put it on SharePoint or OneDrive, or open it together in Excel on the web.
Viewers never need a license #
- Anyone who opens the workbook sees the chart and its updates.
- They can change the plan in the table (dates, progress, new tasks), and the chart redraws for them. No license and no device slot is used.
- A chart made with a license or during the trial keeps its full look for them, including dependencies, colors and all tasks. Changing any of its formatting needs a license or the trial.
What colleagues need #
The chart is drawn by the SimpleGantt add-in, so colleagues need it available in their Excel. It is free to add for viewing and updating. Either they add it themselves, or their IT admin deploys it for everyone (see Deploy SimpleGantt in Microsoft 365). Until the add-in is available to them, Excel shows an add-in message in the chart’s place.
For people who should not need Excel at all, send a PowerPoint, PDF or HTML file instead (see Export and share a chart).
Co-authoring in Excel on the web #
- Several people can edit the table at the same time. Each person’s chart redraws with the changes.
- Chart settings (mapping, look, baseline) are stored in the workbook. If two people change settings at the same moment, the last save wins; nothing is corrupted.
Copies of the workbook #
Save As and file copies keep every chart with its settings and baseline. On a protected sheet or in a read-only file the chart still shows and follows the data, while features that write into the sheet (writing calculated dates, placing a picture) are unavailable and say so. A sample plan picked on a protected sheet goes to a new sheet instead.