Setting Task Due Dates Based on Project Due Date (Retroactively)

Tony Fronza

I need to create a sheet/template where the due dates of tasks are based on the project's due date (i.e., I want to "back into" the project due date). I assume formulas or helper columns might be necessary to accomplish this (e.g., =Projectt_Due_Date-90, etc.), but I can't wrap my head around how to do this using dependencies. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

mel_

Hi Tony! I remember having a similar issue and when I searched around and I couldn't use dependencies for this (I forget why, sorry), but I found a different way:

Have the helper row (the light grey in the picture below, my row #35) label the start and end date of the entire project.

Each task will have this formula for the start date and end date: =IF(ISDATE([End Date]35), [End Date]35 - 61, "TBD")

You change the bold number to the number of days prior to the project end date that you want each task done by. Does that work for you?

mel_

Hi Tony! I remember having a similar issue and when I searched around and I couldn't use dependencies for this (I forget why, sorry), but I found a different way:

Have the helper row (the light grey in the picture below, my row #35) label the start and end date of the entire project.

Each task will have this formula for the start date and end date: =IF(ISDATE([End Date]35), [End Date]35 - 61, "TBD")

You change the bold number to the number of days prior to the project end date that you want each task done by. Does that work for you?

Tony Fronza

Thanks, Mel! I'll try this out. I was able to create small formulas for each task's start/due date to accommodate my needs for now.