7 Incorrect Ways to Use Microsoft Project: Forgetting to Set a Status Date

I agree that the Status Date being displayed is a key part of statusing a schedule. In addition to adding the Status Date graphically, I find it very helpful to add the textual status date in the header of the reporting. That makes it obvious. If you want to enhance your graphic status date vertical bar, add a text box via FORMAT =>Drawings => Text Box. Here, you add text “Status Date: XX/XX/XXXX” and attach the text box to your status date in Properties. Then update with you regular update cycle.

You may have different reporting requirements, some financial, some feature or value oriented. Different stakeholders may require different status reports at different times. it would serve the same purpose, if the status date were changed to accommodate the ‘next’ status reporting requirement.