How are working days calculated?

With the WORKDAY function: the day received is not counted, weekends are Saturday and Sunday, plus the dates from the Holidays sheet. Transferred working Saturdays are not taken into account.

Can I set a deadline as a specific date?

Yes, enter it in the “OR deadline — specific date” column: it takes priority over the number of days.

How do I check statuses for a particular date?

On the Settings sheet enter the date in “Calculate as of date”; if left empty, today's date is used.

How many rows does the register have?

500, with formulas already filled down.

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Deadline Tracker “Traffic Light” — Excel Template

A register of assignments and documents with planned dates that respect working days and holidays, automatic status, a colour traffic light and a summary by owner.

Free

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Blank template + filled-in example · Excel 2007+, LibreOffice, Google Sheets

What it is for

One universal register for tracking deadlines: manager's instructions, incoming documents, team tasks. You enter the date received and the deadline, and Excel calculates the planned completion date, shows the status and colours the row: red — overdue, yellow — deadline is close, green — there is time to spare.

What is inside

Register sheet: up to 500 rows; the deadline is a number of calendar or working days, or a specific date.
Holidays sheet: non-working days for 2026 and 2027, an editable list used to calculate working days.
Settings sheet: owners (drop-down list), the “yellow zone” threshold, and the “calculate as of date” mode (today or a manual date).
Summary sheet: for each owner — total, completed, in progress, overdue, and percent completed on time; the 10 most overdue tasks; charts.

Who it suits

Department heads, secretaries, control specialists, assistants and project managers — anyone who follows up on assignments and documents. The traffic light highlights overdue and approaching deadlines and builds a summary for the manager.

Compatibility

Excel 2007 and newer, LibreOffice. No macros or external links. The file is in English. Check holiday dates against your official calendar.

📘 How to Build a Deadline Tracker in Excel with Traffic-Light Colors

Questions and answers

How are working days calculated?: With the WORKDAY function: the day received is not counted, weekends are Saturday and Sunday, plus the dates from the Holidays sheet. Transferred working Saturdays are not taken into account.
Can I set a deadline as a specific date?: Yes, enter it in the “OR deadline — specific date” column: it takes priority over the number of days.
How do I check statuses for a particular date?: On the Settings sheet enter the date in “Calculate as of date”; if left empty, today's date is used.
How many rows does the register have?: 500, with formulas already filled down.