Test a tracker’s exceptions

46 seconds · narration and speech captions · fictional or illustrative examples.

Narration transcript

A simple tracker can flag overdue work. Let’s make sure it handles the ordinary mistakes too.

Use columns for the task, due date, progress and status. Keep a fixed reference date while you test.

Check the rule in order: done tasks stay done. Blank dates stay blank. Past dates are overdue. Everything else is open.

Try a past date, a future date and a task due today. Then check completed tasks and rows with no date.

Write down the expected result and compare it with what appears. Fix anything that doesn’t match before using real tasks.

Day Five gives you the copyable formula and six test cases. Build the tracker, check the exceptions, then choose a time to review it each day.

Video outline

A small repeat rule: Test the exceptions too.

A task tracker can flag overdue work.
Make the rule small enough to explain.

Captioned walkthrough · expected test cases

1 / Fix a test date: Make the example repeatable.

Columns: Task, Due date, Progress, Status.

Reference date in F1:
14 October 2026

Use real date values. Progress is Open or Done.

Fictional practice data

2 / State the rule: Check in this order.

If Progress is Done → Done.
Otherwise, no due date → blank.
Otherwise, due before F1 → Overdue.
Otherwise → Open.

A task due on F1 is still Open.

The copyable formula is in the written lesson

3 / Test six cases: Expected results at 14 October.

Open, due 13 Oct → Overdue
Open, due 16 Oct → Open
Done, due 12 Oct → Done
Open, no date → blank
Open, due 14 Oct → Open
Done, no date → Done

Expected cases — not a live spreadsheet recording

4 / Compare the result: Record expected and observed.

Correct mismatches before use.
Check date types and locale.
Then switch F1 to TODAY().
Review the list daily.

This tracker does not send reminders or emails

Your next small task: Build and check the tracker.

Use the lesson’s formula.
Try all six cases.
Choose a daily review time.

Free lesson:
www.aiontoast.com/academy/day-5

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