How to Create a Microsoft Projects Without Dates

In this blog post, I’m going to walk you through one of the more unusual — but genuinely useful — features built into Microsoft Project: the ability to create a schedule that doesn’t display specific calendar dates. Now, you might be wondering why anyone would ever want to do that. Let me explain.

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Suppose you’re working with a client named Sandra Kowalski, and her organization is still finalizing its budget approval before committing to an official project start date. Sandra needs to see the project plan — the tasks, the durations, the sequencing — but she doesn’t want her stakeholders fixating on specific dates that might change. In that situation, displaying week numbers instead of calendar dates gives everyone a clear picture of the schedule’s shape and flow without locking in dates that aren’t firm yet. It’s a clean, professional way to present a preliminary plan.

The good news is that Microsoft Project has this capability built right in — it’s just not obvious where to find it. In this article, I’ll show you how to set a working start date, reformat the Start and Finish columns to display relative week codes instead of calendar dates, and update the timescale bar to match. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Set a Working Start Date for the Project

Even though the goal is to hide calendar dates from the view, Microsoft Project still needs a start date internally to calculate task durations and sequencing. Here’s how to set one:

1. Click the Project tab on the ribbon to display the Project ribbon.
2. Click the Project Information button to open the Project Information dialog.
3. In the Start date field, enter a reasonable ballpark date. For example, if Sandra’s project is expected to kick off somewhere between January and June 2025, you might enter March 3, 2025 as a working estimate.
4. Click OK. Microsoft Project will update all of the dates in the Start and Finish columns and refresh the timescale bar accordingly.

Notice that your schedule now shows specific calendar dates throughout. Don’t worry — that’s exactly what we’re about to change.

Step 2: Replace Calendar Dates in the Start and Finish Columns

This is the key step. Microsoft Project includes a special date formatting code that replaces calendar dates with relative week-and-day codes. Here’s how to apply it to the Entry table:

1. Right-click the Select All button — that’s the blank gray button immediately above the row ID number at the very top-left corner of the task sheet.
2. On the shortcut menu, choose More Tables.
3. In the More Tables dialog, make sure Entry is selected, then click the Edit button.
4. In the Table Definition dialog, click the Date Format pick list button. One important thing to note is that this date format applies only to the Entry table — it will not affect any other tables in your project.
5. Scroll down near the bottom of the list and select the format called W4/4.
6. Click OK, then click Apply.

Notice that Microsoft Project has now replaced all of the calendar dates in the Start and Finish columns with codes like W10/2 or W10/4. Here’s how to read those codes: the “W10” means week number 10 counted from the week that contains January 1st. The number after the slash indicates the day of the week, where Sunday = 1, Monday = 2, Tuesday = 3, and so on. So W10/2 means the second day of week 10 — a Monday — and W10/4 means the fourth day of week 10, which is a Wednesday. It takes a moment to get used to, but it’s perfectly readable once you understand the pattern.

If you want to go deeper into Microsoft Project’s formatting options, table definitions, and schedule management techniques, Dale has structured training that covers all of it from the ground up. Whether you’re new to the tool or looking to sharpen your existing skills, you can view Dale’s Microsoft Project training courses.

Step 3: Update the Timescale Bar to Show Week Numbers

The Start and Finish columns now show relative week codes, but the Gantt chart’s timescale bar still displays calendar dates. Let’s fix that so the entire view is consistent and date-free:

1. Double-click anywhere on the timescale bar at the top of the Gantt chart to open the Timescale dialog.
2. Click the Label pick list button for the tier you want to change.
3. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the list and select Week 1, Week 2 from Start.
4. Click OK.

Notice that the timescale bar now displays “Week 1,” “Week 2,” “Week 3,” and so on — counting from the project start date. There are no calendar dates visible anywhere in the Gantt chart view. The schedule communicates duration and sequence clearly, without anchoring anyone to specific dates that haven’t been confirmed yet.

What the Finished View Looks Like

When you’re done, your project looks like a fully structured schedule — tasks, durations, dependencies, and Gantt bars all intact — but with zero calendar dates visible to the reader. The timescale counts weeks from the project start, and the task sheet shows relative week-and-day codes in place of dates. It’s a polished, professional presentation that’s especially useful when you need stakeholder buy-in on a plan before the official start date is locked in.

And that’s it! You now know how to create a Microsoft Project schedule that hides calendar dates and presents your plan in relative week numbers instead — giving you a clean, flexible view that works even when the timeline isn’t fully confirmed yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I want to hide dates in a Microsoft Project schedule?

The most common reason is that the project start date hasn’t been finalized yet. Showing stakeholders a plan with specific calendar dates — when those dates are still uncertain — can create unnecessary confusion or premature commitments. Displaying week numbers instead lets everyone focus on the structure and duration of the work without anchoring to dates that may shift.

Does changing the date format affect my underlying schedule calculations?

No. The W4/4 date format is purely cosmetic. Microsoft Project still uses the start date you entered in Project Information to calculate all task dates and durations internally. You’re only changing how those dates are displayed in the Entry table — not the data itself.

Will this date format change apply to every table in my project?

No, and that’s actually one of the most important things to understand here. When you change the date format through the Table Definition dialog, it applies only to the specific table you edited — in this case, the Entry table. Other tables in your project will continue using the default date format.

Can I switch back to displaying regular calendar dates later?

Absolutely. Just follow the same steps: right-click the Select All button, choose More Tables, select Entry, click Edit, and change the Date Format back to whichever standard format you prefer. The change is completely reversible at any time.

Does this technique work in all versions of Microsoft Project?

Yes, the W4/4 date format and the timescale “Week 1, Week 2 from Start” option have been available in Microsoft Project for many years. This approach works in Project 2016, 2019, 2021, and the Microsoft 365 subscription version of Project.

What if I want some tasks to show dates and others to show week codes?

Unfortunately, the date format in the Table Definition dialog applies to the entire table — you can’t mix date formats within a single table column. If you need a mixed view, your best option is to add a custom text column where you manually enter whatever label you want for specific tasks.

Where can I learn more about creating and formatting Microsoft Project schedules?

Dale Howard has a library of free tutorials on his YouTube channel, plus in-depth training courses available at dalehowardmvp.com.

Ready to master Microsoft Project?

If you found this article helpful, imagine what you could do with structured, expert-led training covering everything from scheduling fundamentals to advanced resource and cost management. Dale’s courses are designed specifically for Microsoft Project practitioners who want to get real results, faster. Take the next step today.View Dale’s Training Courses