When you're trying to determine how many days you have left before reaching a project deadline, try this handy Excel technique.
You don't need to count out days on a calendar to find out how many days you have to complete a project. Excel's NETWORKDAYS function can calculate it for you — without requiring you to work weekends or holidays.
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To set up a worksheet that will calculate the number of working days excluding weekends and holidays from a project's start date to its due date, follow these steps:
- Enter the headings for Project, Start Date, End Date, and Work Days as shown.
- Select B2:C2.
- Press Shift+ Ctrl + Down Arrow.
- Right-click the selection and choose Format Cells.
- Select Date under Category and 3/14/01 under Type.
- Click OK.
- Select J2.
- Press Shift+ Ctrl + Down Arrow.
- Right-click the selection and choose Format cells.
- Select Date under Category and 14-Mar-01 under Type.
- Click OK.
- Complete the Holiday Table as shown.
- Select J2:J9.
- Click in the Name box and enter Holidays_2008.
- Click D2 and enter the following formula:
=NETWORKDAYS(B2,C2,Holidays_2008)
- Copy the formula in D2 to the D3:D4 to obtain the number of Workdays for Projects B and C.
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