---
title: "New in XGantt #1: Striking Graphical Features for Vivid Gantt Charts"
description: New graphical features in version 5.1 of our Gantt chart control VARCHART XGantt
---

[Production Scheduling Tips & Tricks for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ](https://blog.netronic.com)

# [New in XGantt #1: Striking Graphical Features for Vivid Gantt Charts](https://blog.netronic.com/new-version-xgantt-5.1-new-graphical-features-for-vivid-gantt-charts)

 Written by [Alfred Göhlich](https://blog.netronic.com/author/alfred-göhlich) | Jan 10, 2017 8:30:00 AM

A new version (5.1) of [VARCHART XGantt](https://www.netronic.com/products/varchart-xgantt/overview.html), our Gantt control for creating powerful Gantt charts, has been released recently. You can find the complete [release notes here](https://www.netronic.com/support/varchart-xgantt/release-notes.html). 

We’ve come up with so much new features that introducing them all at once would go beyond the scope of one blog post. So I decided to split my description of what's new in the Gantt chart control into a series of blog posts, the first dealing with some great new **graphical features**.

# New sash attributes

Three new layout options allow to modify the appearance of the sashes separating table and diagram as well as histogram and diagram:

- The **three-dimensional appearance** can be switched on or off:

|  | with three-dimensional effect |
| --- | --- |
|   |   |
|  | without three-dimensional effect  |

- The **sash width** can be set to a value between 3 and 20 pixels:

|  |  3 pixels |
| --- | --- |
|   |   |
|  | 20 pixels |

       

- The **moving phantom** of the sash can appear as double line when the update behavior is switched to „Standard“.

|  | with double line |
| --- | --- |
|   |   |
|  | without double line |

## Auxiliary lines for modifying nodes

When nodes are being moved, extended or shortened, you can now show auxiliary lines:

|  | When the mouse pointer is above a node, the auxiliary lines are being shown upon pressing the left mouse button and vanish again when the button is released. While a node is being modified, the auxiliary lines will be constantly updated, of course. |
| --- | --- |

## New layout attributes for the layers in work free intervals

We have re-designed the **Edit Layer** dialog and have added layout options for layers in work free intervals.

The new layout options in detail:

|  | Line: Select the line attributes |
| --- | --- |
|   |   |
|  | Rectangle: Select a pattern for the work free interval. |
|   |   |
|  | Free area |
|   |   |
|  | None: Use this option if only the work free intervals of one particular layer are to be hidden, although on the **Nodes **property page the „Show work free periods of nodes“ option has been ticked. |

## New layer forms

Three new layer forms were added:

These layer shapes can also be selected in the re-designed Edit Layer dialog:

## Next steps

Now try by yourself. If you do not use VARCHART XGantt so far, feel free to download a trial version. This version comes with full functionality, and we are happy to provide you with free tech support during your 30-days trial period.

Want to get more detailed information on selected VARCHART XGantt features? Read our blogpost on how [to customize the display of the duration in the tooltip](https://blog.netronic.com/developer-trick-duration-tooltip-dotnet-gantt-chart-control).

[View full post](https://blog.netronic.com/new-version-xgantt-5.1-new-graphical-features-for-vivid-gantt-charts)

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