Latest Update: 1-15-2026
This article explains what the Data Date is in Planera, why it matters for your schedule updates, and how it affects reporting and forecasting.
What is the Data Date?
The Data Date (sometimes called the “status date” in scheduling) is the date through which all progress, actual dates, and remaining durations are updated in your schedule. It establishes a clear boundary between work that has already happened and work that is still planned.
Everything before the Data Date represents work completed or in progress
Everything after the Data Date represents future work that still needs to be done
In Planera, you can edit the Data Date from your project’s top toolbar by clicking the (i) icon next to the project name and select Edit Data Date
Why the Data Date Matters
The Data Date is more than just a label — it is a scheduling anchor that impacts how your plan behaves and how accurate your reports are.
1. It shows what work has actually happened
The Data Date defines the end point of recorded progress
Activities that start or finish on or before this date should be updated with actual dates or remaining durations
Activities after this date are still planned or forecasted, not actual
This makes it easy to differentiate between completed work and remaining work
2. It drives schedule calculations
When you run the schedule in Planera, the system uses the Data Date as the reference point for calculating expected start and finish dates.
This affects:
Remaining durations
Expected finish dates
How logic and constraints drive future activities
If the Data Date is outdated or incorrect, forecasted dates may be inaccurate
3. It ensures reliable reporting
Performance metrics and progress reports (like % Complete) depend on knowing up to when they are accurate. The Data Date provides this “as-of” timestamp so everyone reviewing the schedule understands how current the information is.
Using the correct Data Date:
Improves communication with stakeholders
Ensures consistent reporting periods
Helps teams stay aligned on schedule health
Common Questions About Data Date
Is the Data Date always “today”?
No. The Data Date is the date you have updated your schedule through, not necessarily the current calendar date. In Planera, the Data Date is the beginning of the day so progress should be updated through the end of the previous day. For example, a schedule printed on Friday could still show Friday as the Data Date even if you open it on Monday.
When should I update the Data Date?
Best practice is to update the Data Date before you enter new progress in your schedule. This ensures that:
Actual work is recorded correctly
Forecasts are based on current work status
Remaining work is calculated from the right reference point
What happens if the Data Date is a non-working day?
It’s okay for the Data Date to fall on a non-working day (such as a weekend or holiday). In Planera, the Data Date still represents the point in time through which progress has been updated, regardless of whether work was scheduled on that specific day.
A few important things to understand:
The Data Date is a status reference, not a working time calculation.
Planera will continue to respect project and activity calendars when calculating expected start and finish dates.
If no work was scheduled on that day, activities will not be forced to start or finish on the non-working day.
Remaining work will be forecasted to the next available working time based on the assigned calendar.
Best practice:
Set the Data Date to the date through which progress was collected (for example, the end of the reporting period), even if that date is a non-working day. This keeps reporting consistent while allowing the schedule logic and calendars to drive realistic future dates.
Related Articles
Project Data Date — instructions for editing your Data Date in Planera.
Updating Schedule Progress — recommended steps when performing progress updates.
How Expected and Actual Finish Dates Work in Planera — how Planera uses the Data Date in finish date calculations.