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Quick answer. Build a real Date column F with =DATE(B2,C2,D2), then use =QUERY(A1:F6,"select A,E where F >= date '2026-10-01' and F < date '2026-11-01'",1). The output must contain Pens, Folders, and Labels only.
Use the fictional practice file: query-dates-practice.csv, plus the independent answer check. Work in a copy. This guide stands on its own without the video.
Scope and limits. The CSV keeps date parts numeric. Construct the F column with DATE and format it as Date before QUERY. Google Sheets locale and function separators can differ; this example uses US English syntax. Verify the three returned items against the practice answer.
1. Construct a real Date column
Put query-dates-practice.csv in a Google Sheet copy. In F1 type Date. In F2 enter =DATE(B2,C2,D2) and fill F2:F6. Format F as Date. Confirm F2 is Sep 30, F3 is Oct 1, F4 is Oct 15, F5 is Oct 31, and F6 is Nov 1, 2026.
Checkpoint: F2:F6 hold actual date values.
2. Know the exact boundaries
The query language needs date '2026-10-01' as its lower bound and date '2026-11-01' as its exclusive upper bound. A bare display date such as 10/1/2026 is not the same query-language date literal.
Checkpoint: Lower bound inclusive; Nov 1 excluded.
3. Run QUERY with one header row
In a clear output area enter =QUERY(A1:F6,"select A,E where F >= date '2026-10-01' and F < date '2026-11-01'",1). The 1 tells QUERY that the first source row is a header. The formula returns the Item and Amount USD columns for October rows.
Checkpoint: QUERY uses headers=1 and leaves output space.
4. Check all three result rows
Read the output row by row: Pens $100, Folders $75, Labels $125. No Paper or Tape. The three amounts sum to $300. Check both the included and excluded rows before claiming the filter works.
Checkpoint: Pens, Folders, Labels; $300 total.
Verify the result
With F2:F6 built from the numeric date parts, the October QUERY returns Pens $100 (Oct 1), Folders $75 (Oct 15), and Labels $125 (Oct 31). It excludes Paper $50 (Sep 30) and Tape $200 (Nov 1). The three included amounts total $300. The third QUERY argument is 1 because row 1 is a header.
If it still does not work
If QUERY returns no data or a parse error, inspect the date keyword, single-quoted ISO literals, real numeric date values in F, and final header count 1. A display format does not turn text into a date. Keep the output range clear so a result can expand.
Official sources
- Google Sheets QUERY function (checked 26 October 2026).
- Google Visualization API Query Language (checked 26 October 2026).
- Google Sheets DATE function (checked 26 October 2026).
Any instructional panel without a marked actual-app capture is an illustrative diagram of the fictional exercise.
Practice downloads.
The exercise files contain invented information. Save a local copy before editing.