Project timeline

What you will build

Build a small project timeline with Milestone, Owner, Start, Due, Progress, and a Status column that updates from a fixed status date.

Prepare the sample data

Open the practice workbook or make a copy, then make sure A1:E4 matches the sample below. Start and Due must be valid dates, and Progress must be a number from 0 to 1.

HANDS-ON PRACTICE

Practice in your own copy

Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.

Make a Google Sheets copy (access required) ↗View original

Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.

Source timeline table in Google Sheets with Milestone, Owner, Start, Due, and Progress in A1:E4.

Open the practice workbook in Google Sheets ↗

Add a status date and Status column

Step 1: Enter Status in F1. Enter Status date in H1 and 2026-10-04 in H2. A fixed date keeps the lesson reproducible instead of changing every day.

Step 2: In F2, enter the formula below.

=IF(E2>=1,"Done",IF(D2<$H$2,"Check timing","In progress"))

How this formula works=IF(E2>=1,"Done",IF(D2<$H$2,"Check timing","In progress"))

Overall meaning of the whole formula
- Classify status in order: if E2 is at least 1 return "Done"; otherwise, if D2 is below the H2 threshold return "Check timing"; all remaining cases return "In progress".
IF(logical_expression, value_if_true, [value_if_false]) — call 1
- `logical_expression` is required; it accepts an expression that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE. In this lesson the argument passed is `E2>=1`.
- `value_if_true` is required; it accepts the value or expression returned when the test is TRUE. In this lesson the argument passed is `"Done"`.
- `value_if_false` is optional; it accepts the value or expression returned when the test is FALSE. In this lesson the argument passed is `IF(D2<$H$2,"Check timing","In progress")`.
IF(logical_expression, value_if_true, [value_if_false]) — call 2
- `logical_expression` is required; it accepts an expression that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE. In this lesson the argument passed is `D2<$H$2`.
- `value_if_true` is required; it accepts the value or expression returned when the test is TRUE. In this lesson the argument passed is `"Check timing"`.
- `value_if_false` is optional; it accepts the value or expression returned when the test is FALSE. In this lesson the argument passed is `"In progress"`.
Whole-expression evaluation
- Sheets evaluates the innermost function calls first, then passes their results outward through the enclosing expression.
- E2 is the current milestone Progress. If E2 >= 1, the formula returns "Done".
- If the milestone is not complete, D2 is compared with the status date in $H$2.
- $H$2 is an absolute reference, so the status date stays fixed when the formula is filled down.
- If Due is earlier than the status date, the result is "Check timing"; otherwise it is "In progress".
Why the displayed final result appears
- If Due is earlier than the status date, the result is "Check timing"; otherwise it is "In progress".
- The final output must be read against the lesson’s visible sample data; this explanation does not change the formula, references, or criteria used in the lesson.

Cell F2 selected in Google Sheets, showing the status formula and the result Done.

Step 3: Fill the formula from F2 down through F4. With the sample data and Status date 2026-10-04, the results are Done, Check timing, and In progress.

Completed timeline with a Status column and Status date 2026-10-04.

Test a changed input

Step 4: Temporarily change Design Progress in E3 from 0.5 to 1. F3 should change from "Check timing" to "Done". After verifying it, restore E3 to 0.5.

Checkpoint

Milestone	Owner	Start	Due	Progress	Status
Brief	An	2026-09-21	2026-09-23	1	Done
Design	Binh	2026-09-24	2026-09-30	0.5	Check timing
QA	Chi	2026-10-01	2026-10-05	0	In progress

These results use Status date 2026-10-04. If you change H2, incomplete milestones may return a different status.

Common mistakes and fixes

If a status looks wrong, check three things: Due is a valid date, Progress is a number from 0 to 1, and H2 contains the intended status date.

Independent practice

Add a fourth milestone with valid Start/Due dates, fill the Status formula into the new row, then test both an incomplete Progress value and Progress = 1 to verify both branches of the formula.

Key takeaways

✓The sample timeline uses Milestone, Owner, Start, Due, Progress, and Status.
✓A fixed status date keeps the result reproducible and easy to verify.
✓The formula checks Progress >= 1 before it evaluates Due.
✓The $H$2 reference must stay fixed when the formula is filled down.
✓Changing one input and restoring it confirms that the formula responds correctly.

Continue learning

Previous lesson: Invoice tracker; Next lesson: Content calendar.

What you will build

Build a small project timeline with Milestone, Owner, Start, Due, Progress, and a Status column that updates from a fixed status date.

Prepare the sample data

Open the practice workbook or make a copy, then make sure A1:E4 matches the sample below. Start and Due must be valid dates, and Progress must be a number from 0 to 1.

HANDS-ON PRACTICE

Practice in your own copy

Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.

Make a Google Sheets copy (access required) ↗View original

Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.

Open the practice workbook in Google Sheets ↗

Add a status date and Status column

Step 1: Enter Status in F1. Enter Status date in H1 and 2026-10-04 in H2. A fixed date keeps the lesson reproducible instead of changing every day.

Step 2: In F2, enter the formula below.

=IF(E2>=1,"Done",IF(D2<$H$2,"Check timing","In progress"))

How this formula works=IF(E2>=1,"Done",IF(D2<$H$2,"Check timing","In progress"))

Overall meaning of the whole formula
- Classify status in order: if E2 is at least 1 return "Done"; otherwise, if D2 is below the H2 threshold return "Check timing"; all remaining cases return "In progress".
IF(logical_expression, value_if_true, [value_if_false]) — call 1
- `logical_expression` is required; it accepts an expression that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE. In this lesson the argument passed is `E2>=1`.
- `value_if_true` is required; it accepts the value or expression returned when the test is TRUE. In this lesson the argument passed is `"Done"`.
- `value_if_false` is optional; it accepts the value or expression returned when the test is FALSE. In this lesson the argument passed is `IF(D2<$H$2,"Check timing","In progress")`.
IF(logical_expression, value_if_true, [value_if_false]) — call 2
- `logical_expression` is required; it accepts an expression that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE. In this lesson the argument passed is `D2<$H$2`.
- `value_if_true` is required; it accepts the value or expression returned when the test is TRUE. In this lesson the argument passed is `"Check timing"`.
- `value_if_false` is optional; it accepts the value or expression returned when the test is FALSE. In this lesson the argument passed is `"In progress"`.
Whole-expression evaluation
- Sheets evaluates the innermost function calls first, then passes their results outward through the enclosing expression.
- E2 is the current milestone Progress. If E2 >= 1, the formula returns "Done".
- If the milestone is not complete, D2 is compared with the status date in $H$2.
- $H$2 is an absolute reference, so the status date stays fixed when the formula is filled down.
- If Due is earlier than the status date, the result is "Check timing"; otherwise it is "In progress".
Why the displayed final result appears
- If Due is earlier than the status date, the result is "Check timing"; otherwise it is "In progress".
- The final output must be read against the lesson’s visible sample data; this explanation does not change the formula, references, or criteria used in the lesson.

Step 3: Fill the formula from F2 down through F4. With the sample data and Status date 2026-10-04, the results are Done, Check timing, and In progress.

Test a changed input

Step 4: Temporarily change Design Progress in E3 from 0.5 to 1. F3 should change from "Check timing" to "Done". After verifying it, restore E3 to 0.5.

Checkpoint

Milestone	Owner	Start	Due	Progress	Status
Brief	An	2026-09-21	2026-09-23	1	Done
Design	Binh	2026-09-24	2026-09-30	0.5	Check timing
QA	Chi	2026-10-01	2026-10-05	0	In progress

These results use Status date 2026-10-04. If you change H2, incomplete milestones may return a different status.

Common mistakes and fixes

If a status looks wrong, check three things: Due is a valid date, Progress is a number from 0 to 1, and H2 contains the intended status date.

Independent practice

Add a fourth milestone with valid Start/Due dates, fill the Status formula into the new row, then test both an incomplete Progress value and Progress = 1 to verify both branches of the formula.

Key takeaways

✓The sample timeline uses Milestone, Owner, Start, Due, Progress, and Status.
✓A fixed status date keeps the result reproducible and easy to verify.
✓The formula checks Progress >= 1 before it evaluates Due.
✓The $H$2 reference must stay fixed when the formula is filled down.
✓Changing one input and restoring it confirms that the formula responds correctly.

Continue learning

Previous lesson: Invoice tracker; Next lesson: Content calendar.

Project timeline

What you will build

Prepare the sample data

Practice in your own copy

Add a status date and Status column

Test a changed input

Checkpoint

Common mistakes and fixes

Independent practice

Key takeaways

Check your understanding

Continue learning

What should you learn next?

Comments

Project timeline

What you will build

Prepare the sample data

Practice in your own copy

Add a status date and Status column

Test a changed input

Checkpoint

Common mistakes and fixes

Independent practice

Key takeaways

Check your understanding

Continue learning

What should you learn next?

Comments