# Expected task highlights

The Due date column uses formulas relative to the day the sheet is opened. A truly empty Due date cell remains blank. After applying the rule to **A2:C7** in your own sheet—or opening the prebuilt practice workbook—exactly two tasks should have a light red fill.

| Task | Due date | Status | Highlight? | Reason |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Send draft | Today − 2 days | Open | Yes | Real past date; not Done. |
| Budget review | Today + 3 days | Open | No | Future date. |
| Request sign-off | Blank | Open | No | No numeric due date. |
| Archive report | Today − 5 days | Done | No | Completed. |
| Publish notes | Today | Open | No | Today is not before today. |
| Fix invoice | Today − 1 day | In progress | Yes | Real past date; not Done. |

Rule: `=AND(ISNUMBER($B2),$B2<TODAY(),$C2<>"Done")`

The supplied `overdue-tasks-practice.xlsx` already stores this native conditional-formatting formula over A2:C7. English Excel for the web loaded it and highlighted exactly Send draft and Fix invoice on 9 October 2026. Change Fix invoice to Done on a disposable copy: its fill should disappear. Restore In progress, then clear its due date: its fill should disappear again. Restore the original formula afterward. These temporary edits remain checks for your own Excel session; they were not part of the recorded live test.