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Google Sheetsspreadsheet~10 mins

Timeline charts in Google Sheets - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

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Sample Data

Project tasks with their start and end dates for creating a timeline chart.

CellValue
A1Task
B1Start Date
C1End Date
A2Design
B22024-06-01
C22024-06-05
A3Development
B32024-06-06
C32024-06-15
A4Testing
B42024-06-16
C42024-06-20
A5Deployment
B52024-06-21
C52024-06-22
Formula Trace
=C2-B2
Step 1: C2 - B2
Cell Reference Map
     A          B           C
1 | Task     | Start Date | End Date |
2 | Design   | 2024-06-01 | 2024-06-05 |
   ^          ^           ^
   |          |           |
   |          +-----------+
   +----------------------
Formula references cells B2 (Start Date) and C2 (End Date) to calculate task duration.
Result
     A            B           C           D
1 | Task       | Start Date | End Date | Duration |
2 | Design     | 2024-06-01 | 2024-06-05 | 4       |
3 | Development| 2024-06-06 | 2024-06-15 | 9       |
4 | Testing    | 2024-06-16 | 2024-06-20 | 4       |
5 | Deployment | 2024-06-21 | 2024-06-22 | 1       |
Duration column shows the number of days each task takes, calculated by subtracting start date from end date.
Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions
Test your understanding
What does the formula =C2-B2 calculate?
AThe start date minus the task name
BThe sum of start and end dates
CThe number of days between start and end dates
DThe end date plus the start date
Key Result
Subtracting start date from end date calculates task duration in days.