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Working with Task Due Dates

By understanding how start and due dates work together, you can make adjustments confidently and ensure tasks reflect the right timing.

Dylan Main avatar
Written by Dylan Main
Updated over 3 weeks ago

When to Use This

Task dates keep your projects on schedule and visible in timelines like the Gantt chart. By understanding how start and due dates work together, you can make adjustments confidently and ensure tasks reflect the right timing.

Before You Begin

  • You need permission to edit tasks in the project.

  • Remember: Start Date and Due Date work together—you can’t set them independently in ways that break timeline logic.


Steps to Follow

1. Set a Start Date

  • Open the task you want to update.

  • In the task details, enter a Start Date.

  • The Due Date will automatically match the start date at first.

    • This ensures the task appears correctly in the Gantt chart view, even if you haven’t stretched the timeline yet.


2. Adjust the Due Date

  • Change the Due Date to extend beyond the start date, if needed.

  • OnRamp won’t let you set a due date that falls before the start date.

    • If you need to move the due date earlier, update the start date first.

    • Example: To set a due date in the past, first backdate the start date, then reset the due date.


3. Understand Overdue Status

  • Tasks are marked Overdue if:

    • The current date is later than the due date, and

    • The task has not yet been completed.

  • Overdue tasks appear with a clear status label so you know where attention is needed.


Tips & Troubleshooting

  • Gantt View Alignment: Always set a start date so your task appears in the Gantt timeline.

  • Backdating a Task: If you’re logging work after it happened, adjust the start date first before moving the due date back.

  • Quick Check for Delays: Use Views or filters to surface all overdue tasks across your projects.

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