Unable to retain text in text box

Question

Unable to retain text in text box

JKS R 20

I drew a text box in the Gantt chart area. However, the text disappears when I finish my text message. Is there someone who can comment on setups or navigation method? I'm using MS Project Professional 2021.

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Answer accepted by question author

Dora-T 635 Independent Advisor

Hi JKS R

To better understand your scenario, could you please confirm whether you are using Format > Drawing > Text Box to add the text box to the Gantt Chart area?

In the meantime, I recommend trying the following:

-Go to Gantt Chart Format > Layout and make sure Show Drawings is enabled. If it is already enabled, try clearing the option, select OK, and then enable Show Drawings again.

-Create a new blank project and add a text box there to see whether the same behavior occurs.

-Save the project, close Project, and reopen the file to check whether the text box and its text are retained.

-Check File > Account > About Project and provide the exact Project Professional 2021 version/build.

If your goal is to display task-related information directly on Gantt bars, you can also use Project's built-in Bar Text feature. Double-click a Gantt bar, select Bar Text, and choose the information to display in the Left, Right, Top, Bottom, or Inside position. For text that is unique to individual tasks, you can use a custom text field such as Text1, Text2, or Text3 and display that field on the Gantt bar.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Note: Please follow the steps in the forum documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Dora-T 635 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-20T23:51:34.1066667+00:00

Hi JKS R

May I know if you have got any chance to check my answer? If you need further assistance, please feel free to let me know. Thank you!
JKS R 20 Reputation points

2026-08-22T02:55:12.33+00:00

Dora,

The Gantt Chart Format & Drawing options were always open. Following your comments, I created a new test Gantt Chart. The text disappeared again, but after I turned the chart off then re-opened it, the text reappeared permanently! Then I went to my old chart, drew another text box & the new text remained permanently without having to turn the chart off & on. Are the 2 functions related?

For using Text1, 2, etc. alternates, will post a question in the future if needed. Thanks for your comments.

JR
Dora-T 635 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-23T23:20:34.0433333+00:00

Hi JKS R

Thank you for the update and for sharing your findings.

I’m glad to hear that the text is now being retained in both the new and existing charts. Your findings may be helpful to other community members who encounter the same issue.

Regarding your question about whether the two functions are related, I couldn’t find any Microsoft documentation confirming a direct relationship between them, so I’m unable to determine whether reopening the chart is what caused the text to be retained.

If you have any questions in the future, feel free to reach out anytime.

Have a nice day!
JKS R 20 Reputation points

2026-08-26T00:58:08.99+00:00

8/25/26, Hi Dora,Hope this current comment gets to you. My previous msg of being able to retain text in Text Box lasted 1 - day only. Rather than using a Text Box, would you know of another method of writing & saving text in the Gantt chart area?

Regards, JKS R
Dora-T 635 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-26T02:36:46.29+00:00

Hi JKS R

Thank you for the update. I’m sorry to hear that the workaround only lasted for one day.

As an alternative, if you would like to write and retain text associated with individual tasks, you can use a custom text field such as Text1, Text2, or Text3 and display it as Bar Text on the Gantt bar. This stores the text as task data rather than as a drawing object, so it may be a more reliable option if you need the text to remain with the project.

Another option is the Notes field if you only need to save additional information for a task. The note content, however, will not be displayed directly in the Gantt chart area.

If you specifically need to place text at an arbitrary position in the Gantt chart area, similar to a Text Box, I’m not aware of another built-in Project feature that provides the same functionality.

I hope this gives you a practical alternative. Have a nice day!

1 additional answer

Your answer

Dora-T 635 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-20T23:51:34.1066667+00:00

Hi JKS R

May I know if you have got any chance to check my answer? If you need further assistance, please feel free to let me know. Thank you!
JKS R 20 Reputation points

2026-08-22T02:55:12.33+00:00

Dora,

The Gantt Chart Format & Drawing options were always open. Following your comments, I created a new test Gantt Chart. The text disappeared again, but after I turned the chart off then re-opened it, the text reappeared permanently! Then I went to my old chart, drew another text box & the new text remained permanently without having to turn the chart off & on. Are the 2 functions related?

For using Text1, 2, etc. alternates, will post a question in the future if needed. Thanks for your comments.

JR
Dora-T 635 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-23T23:20:34.0433333+00:00

Hi JKS R

Thank you for the update and for sharing your findings.

I’m glad to hear that the text is now being retained in both the new and existing charts. Your findings may be helpful to other community members who encounter the same issue.

Regarding your question about whether the two functions are related, I couldn’t find any Microsoft documentation confirming a direct relationship between them, so I’m unable to determine whether reopening the chart is what caused the text to be retained.

If you have any questions in the future, feel free to reach out anytime.

Have a nice day!
JKS R 20 Reputation points

2026-08-26T00:58:08.99+00:00

8/25/26, Hi Dora,Hope this current comment gets to you. My previous msg of being able to retain text in Text Box lasted 1 - day only. Rather than using a Text Box, would you know of another method of writing & saving text in the Gantt chart area?

Regards, JKS R
Dora-T 635 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-26T02:36:46.29+00:00

Hi JKS R

Thank you for the update. I’m sorry to hear that the workaround only lasted for one day.

As an alternative, if you would like to write and retain text associated with individual tasks, you can use a custom text field such as Text1, Text2, or Text3 and display it as Bar Text on the Gantt bar. This stores the text as task data rather than as a drawing object, so it may be a more reliable option if you need the text to remain with the project.

Another option is the Notes field if you only need to save additional information for a task. The note content, however, will not be displayed directly in the Gantt chart area.

If you specifically need to place text at an arbitrary position in the Gantt chart area, similar to a Text Box, I’m not aware of another built-in Project feature that provides the same functionality.

I hope this gives you a practical alternative. Have a nice day!

Answer 1

In Project Professional 2021, a text box can be added in the Gantt chart area from Format > Drawing > Text Box. After drawing it, click inside the box and type or paste the text.

If the text is disappearing after entry, use the built-in Gantt bar text feature instead of a drawn text box when the goal is to show task-related text on the chart. That method is more reliable for task information:

Apply the Gantt Chart view.
Double-click in the chart portion of the Gantt Chart view, but not on an individual bar.
In Bar Styles, select the Gantt bar type such as Task or Progress.
Open the Text tab.
In Left, Right, Top, Bottom, or Inside, select the field to display, such as task name, resource name, percent complete, or a custom field like Text1, Text2, or Text3.

For text on only one specific bar:

Double-click that bar.
In Format Bar, open Bar Text.
Choose the field to display in Left, Right, Top, Bottom, or Inside.

If unique text is needed for individual tasks, enter it into a custom text field such as Text1, Text2, or Text3, then display that field on the bar. Project does not support adding unique text directly to individual Gantt bars without using custom text fields.