How to Create a Roadmap in Excel (4 Easy Ways)

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If you are trying to create a roadmap in Excel, then you may find this article useful. A roadmap may be helpful to get a clear view of a project summary. So, let’s get into the main article.

Here, we are going to discuss 4 different ways of creating a roadmap in Excel in the following sections. We will show in a roadmap the 4 stages of working procedures for 3 different types of work here. You can modify it as per your necessity.
For creating this article, we have used Microsoft Excel 365 version. However, you can use any other version at your convenience.


1. Using Shapes to Create a Roadmap in Excel

In the following sheet, we will create a Roadmap for ExcelDemy using different shapes of Excel.

Using Shapes to Create a Roadmap in Excel


Step-01: Insert Shapes

Here, we will insert different shapes.

  • Go to the Insert tab >> Shapes dropdown >> Rectangle: Rounded Corners.

shapes

Then, we placed this shape in the following place.

  • Then, we copied and pasted this shape 3 times and placed them serially in a line.

Using Shapes to Create a Roadmap in Excel

Now, we have to choose a vertical rectangular shape.

  • Go to the Insert tab >> Shapes dropdown >> Rectangle.

rectangle

  • Place the rectangle vertically in the following position.

  • Insert the rectangle shape 2 more times in the same line.

Using Shapes to Create a Roadmap in Excel

Now, we will put rectangular boxes between these shapes.

  • Choose the rectangle shape and align it in line with the upper and side shapes.

In this way, we completed the following shapes and aligned them with the upper and side shapes.

Using Shapes to Create a Roadmap in Excel

To make this roadmap attractive, we will put a different shape for showing the final stage.

  • Go to the Insert tab >> Shapes dropdown >> Arrow: Pentagon.

arrow shape

Then, we fixed the position of this shape in the following indicated place.

  • Copy and paste the arrow shape in the last two empty spaces aligning in line.


Step-02: Change Colors and Insert Contents

Now, we will change the colors and formatting of the boxes and insert the contents in these boxes.

  • Then, we changed the colors of these shapes. You can also change them according to your necessity by selecting the shape and going to the Shape Format tab >> Shape Fill dropdown >> choosing any color.

Using Shapes to Create a Roadmap in Excel

After changing the colors, we will write down the contents inside the shapes. The first 4 shapes are for indicators of phases.

  • Choose the first horizontal shape and type Phase 1.

  • Similarly, write down the other phase names for the rest of the cells.

phases

  • Write down the first project name; Content Writing in the first vertical box.
  • To change its alignment select the text and go to the Home tab >> Orientation group >> Rotate Text Up.

contents vertically

In this way, we have written the other project names for the rest of the vertical boxes.

Using Shapes to Create a Roadmap in Excel

It’s time to write down the contexts of the works in different phases for different projects between these phases and projects.
For example, in a shape that aligns with Phase 1 and Content Writing, type Search for Keywords.

If you want to change the content color of these boxes, you can do this too.

  • Choose the text, right-click, then select the Font Color dropdown and pick a color.

Using Shapes to Create a Roadmap in Excel

Read More: How to Make a Venn Diagram in Excel (3 Easy Ways)


2. Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel

In this section, we will create a roadmap in the following sheet using SmartArt graphics.

Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel


Step-01: Insert SmartArt Grouped List

Here, we will add a grouped list.

  • Go to the Insert tab >> Illustrations group >> SmartArt.

smartart

Then, Choose a SmartArt Graphic window will appear.

  • Choose the All tab, and select the Grouped List option.
  • Press OK.

grouped list

In this way, we inserted the following Grouped List.

As we need 2 more columns for our roadmap, we will follow this process.

  • Select the list, and go to the SmartArt Design tab >> Add Shape.

add shape

In this way, we inserted the following column.

Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel

Similarly, another extra column is also inserted.

Now, we will extend our grouped list size due to fitting the contents inside these boxes.

  • Select this grouped list, and drag the indicated symbol to the right and down.

increase size

In this way, we extended the size of the grouped list.

Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel

  • To appear on the text pane, select the grouped list, and go to the SmartArt Design tab >> click on Text Pane.

text pane

Later, the Text Pane will appear.

Read More: How to Add SmartArt Graphics in Excel (7 Suitable Examples)


Step-02: Insert Text Boxes

As we need three text boxes in a column, we will increase the number of text boxes from 2 to 3.

  • Select the 2nd line of the 1st column in the text pane, and press ENTER.

Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel

In this way, we entered an extra text box in the first column.

extra text box

Similarly, add an extra text box for the next 2 columns.

Now, we will enter 3 text boxes in the last newly added shapes.

  • Click on the place of the 4th column in the text pane, and press ENTER.

A new shape will be inserted.

  • Now, press the TAB key.

TAB key

By pressing the TAB key, the newly added shape has been converted into a text box inside the previous shape.

  • Press ENTER twice to add new two text boxes.

Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel

Following this process, we successfully added the three text boxes in the 4th column.

3 boxes

Similarly, do the same thing for the last added shape.

Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel


Step-03: Write Down Text Contents

Now, we will put down the text contents in all of the boxes.

  • In the first column, we will write down the project names in the first column.

writing project names in first column

  • In the headings of the next 4 columns, we put down the phase numbers serially.

phases

You can change the size of the heading of these phase numbers also.

  • Select the text, right-click, and change the Font Size also.

Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel

Now, you can also write down the work contents for different phases and projects.

  • Type Search for Keywords inside the first text box of the Phase 1 column.

work contents

Then, we have written down the rest of the work contents inside all of the boxes for different phases and projects.

To make this grouped list understandable, we will change the shapes of the boxes of the project names.

  • Select the boxes of the project names by pressing CTRL, and right-clicking.
  • Click on Change Shape, and choose the arrow symbol.

change shape

So, the shapes of the first column have been changed.

Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel

If you want to change the colors of this grouped list, you can also do this work.

  • Select the grouped list, and go to the SmartArt Design tab >> Change Colors dropdown >> pick any style.

Finally, we have completed the following Roadmap for ExcelDemy.

Applying SmartArt Graphics to Create a Roadmap in Excel

Read More: How to Insert WordArt in Excel (2 Simple Methods)


3. Modifying Cell Borders to Create a Roadmap in Excel

In this method, we will form a roadmap by modifying the cells of the following sheet.

Modifying Cell Borders to Create a Roadmap in Excel

Steps:

First, we will create 4 boxes for different phases.

  • Select the 2 rows and 3 columns for creating a box, and then go to the Home tab >> Borders dropdown >> Thick Outside Borders.

thick border

For the first phase number, we created the first box.

Similarly, for the next phase numbers, we created the boxes also.

boxes for phases

  • Vertically selecting 5 rows, we applied the thick outside border.

vertical box

For writing down the project names, we completed the outline of the boxes.

Modifying Cell Borders to Create a Roadmap in Excel

  • For writing down the contents of the works, select the cells up to the intersection point of the first horizontal box and vertical box.
  • Apply a thick outside border here.

content box

In this way, we completed the following borders also.

To write down the contents of these boxes we have to merge the cells of each box.

  • Select all of the cells of a box and then go to the Home tab >> Alignment dropdown >> Merge & Center.

merge cells

Later, the merging of the first box is completed.

  • Do this process for the rest of the cells also.

Modifying Cell Borders to Create a Roadmap in Excel

  • Write down the contents in the boxes and change their font sizes according to your necessity.

Then, we changed the colors of these boxes and the final look of the roadmap is like the following figure.

Modifying Cell Borders to Create a Roadmap in Excel

Read More: How to Color Code Cells in Excel (3 Efficient Methods)


4. Using Excel Template

You can also use ready-made templates built by Excel for creating your roadmap easily if you have less time.

Steps:

  • Go to the File tab.

Using Excel Template to Create a Roadmap in Excel

  • Type Roadmap in the search bar.

roadmap

Then, different roadmap templates will appear.

  • Select your favorite template. Here, we selected the Work plan timeline template.

Next, a new window will appear.

  • Click on Create.

create

Then, you will be taken to a newly created workbook.

  • Go to the Work Plan sheet.

Using Excel Template to Create a Roadmap in Excel

  • Later, we changed the title of this roadmap, and the names of the activities have been inputted for 4 different phases.
  • You can also add the work outputs in the second box.

input contents


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Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed different ways to create a roadmap in Excel. Hope these methods will help you a lot. If you have any further queries, then leave a comment below.


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Tanjima Hossain
Tanjima Hossain

TANJIMA HOSSAIN is a marine engineer who enjoys working with Excel and VBA programming. For her, programming is a handy, time-saving tool for managing data, files, and online tasks. She's skilled in Rhino3D, Maxsurf C++, MS Office, AutoCAD, and Excel & VBA, going beyond the basics. She holds a B.Sc. in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from BUET and is now a content developer. In this role, she creates tech-focused content centred around Excel and VBA. Apart from... Read Full Bio

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