Attendance Tracker
Learn how to use your Attendance Tracker in Google Sheets. Follow the quick start steps below, or browse the FAQs and troubleshooting tips for more guidance.
Template Overview
Get to know how each tab works. Every sheet in your template has a clear purpose, from setup to the final outputs that keep your project organized.
Setup Tab
Purpose
The Setup Tab is where you build the master list of everyone you want to track.
🧩 All names, departments, locations, and managers you enter here will automatically flow into every Monthly Tab and the Dashboard.
This tab is the foundation of the entire tracker.
Why It Works
Once you set up your list:
• Each Monthly Tab pulls your employee list automatically
• The Dashboard reads everything from the Monthly Tabs
• Any updates you make (names, departments, roles, locations) sync across the entire file instantly
One update on the Setup Tab updates the entire tracker.
Try This in Your Template
1. Customize your column headers
At the top right, edit the values under Headers to rename fields such as Employee, Department, Location, or Manager.
✏️ When you change a header here, the table below updates automatically.
(Shown in the Setup Tab screenshot)
This allows complete control over how you categorize the people or items you are tracking.
2. Enter your team or roster
Fill out the list in the main table using the columns you customized.
For example, you might list:
• Employee name
• Department
• Location
• Manager
All entries added here will appear in every attendance log throughout the workbook.
🗂 This keeps your data consistent and prevents duplicates.
3. (Google Sheets only) Add icons for better organization
If you are using Google Sheets, you can add colored icons next to each person for faster identification.
To add an icon:
Select an icon from the sample icon list on the right
Copy it
Paste it into the Icon column next to the appropriate employee
The icon will automatically appear everywhere that employee appears
(Instructions visible on the Setup Tab screenshot)
💡 Icons are not available in Excel due to platform limitations.
4. Keep your list clean and consistent
• Avoid inserting blank rows in the middle of the list
• Use consistent spelling for locations and departments
• Update names here rather than on monthly tabs to avoid mismatched data
Your entire tracker depends on the Setup Tab staying organized.
Tips for Success
• Add your full roster before entering any attendance
• Update this tab as your team changes
• Use icons in Google Sheets if you want a more visual layout
• Keep names unique to avoid confusion across the dashboard
Monthly Tabs
Purpose
Each Monthly Tab is where you log daily attendance for your entire team.
📅 Every cell in the calendar grid is a dropdown, so marking attendance takes only a few clicks.
All attendance logged here is pulled into the Dashboard automatically.
Why It Works
Each monthly sheet is built with:
• A preloaded list of names from your Setup Tab
• Daily attendance dropdowns
• A monthly summary for each person
• Automatic totals that flow into the Dashboard
You simply select the correct attendance symbol each day and the dashboard updates for you.
The monthly tabs are where you record attendance. The dashboard is where you analyze it.
Try This in Your Template
1. Choose the correct month tab
Open January, February, March, etc. Each tab works the same way.
🗂 Your full roster is already loaded for you.
2. Log attendance using the dropdowns
Each day has a dropdown containing two symbols:
• ⵔ = Present
• ✕ = Absent
Click any cell and choose the appropriate symbol.
📌 All totals update instantly.
3. Understand how sorting works in the Monthly Tabs
This is the most common area of confusion, so let’s make it clear:
Sorting on a Monthly Tab only rearranges the list of names.
It does not move the attendance values with the name.
Why?
Because the attendance entries in the monthly grid are manual, independent dropdown selections. They are not tied to the name rows the way formulas are.
If you sort after logging attendance, people think the attendance “got mixed up.”
It did not. The sorting simply moves the names but leaves the manual entries behind.
This is normal spreadsheet behavior.
4. So why is the Sort feature available?
Sorting exists to help you organize your list before you start logging attendance.
For example:
• Sort by Name to create an alphabetical list
• Sort by Department to group teams
• Sort by Location to separate offices
📝 Do this before entering any attendance.
Once you begin logging attendance for the month:
→ Do not sort the list again.
5. Where should you sort after attendance is entered?
The Dashboard Tab.
The Dashboard pulls attendance from every monthly tab using formulas.
Because everything on the Dashboard is formula driven:
• Sorting works
• Sorting keeps names and attendance aligned
• Sorting stays accurate no matter how much data you log
The Dashboard is the correct place to sort by Name, Department, Location, Manager, or any other field.
Tips for Success
• Sort your list before entering attendance
• Do not sort a Monthly Tab after entering any symbols
• Log attendance daily using ⵔ and ✕
• Use the Dashboard if you want a sortable summary
• Update the Setup Tab if you need to change names or categories
Dashboard Tab
Purpose
The Dashboard gathers all attendance data from the Monthly Tabs and displays it in one place.
📊 It gives you a clear picture of who is present, who is absent, and how each team or department is doing overall.
Why It Works
The Dashboard is powered entirely by formulas.
Every ⵔ and ✕ you log in the Monthly Tabs is automatically pulled into the Dashboard, keeping everything accurate and consistent.
Because the Dashboard uses formulas:
• Sorting works correctly
• Names and attendance always stay aligned
• You can reorganize the list anytime without breaking anything
This is the correct place to sort and analyze your attendance data.
Try This in Your Template
1. Review your attendance summary
You will see each person’s total days present, total days absent, and their monthly attendance ratio.
📈 This gives you a quick overview of how everyone is performing.
2. Sort your data using the dropdown
Use the Sort By dropdown to sort by Name, Department, Office, or any other category you set on the Setup Tab.
🔄 Sorting here is safe because everything is formula driven.
3. Use the Dashboard for reporting
The Dashboard gives you a clean, structured summary you can use for:
• Team reviews
• HR check ins
• Monthly attendance reporting
You do not need to update anything manually. It is always up to date.
Tips for Success
• Sort on the Dashboard, not on the Monthly Tabs
• Make changes to names or categories on the Setup Tab
• Use the Dashboard as your master view for attendance insights
Common Questions Answered Clearly
Still have questions? Here are clear answers to the most common ones.