# Give clients a live project timeline without sharing your sheet

> Your client opens one link and sees what's done, what's next and exactly what's waiting on them.

Turn your project tracker sheet into a Sheets canvas timeline and publish it as a read-only link. Your client sees milestones, dates and what's waiting on them, but not your rates or notes.

- Page: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/client-project-timeline-link-sheets-canvas/
- Category: Wow your clients
- Made for: Consultants, Coaches, Small business owners, Creators
- Works in: Gemini
- Time: About 15 minutes
- Effort: A few steps
- Note: Publishing works in Sheets on the web for Google AI Pro, Ultra and some Workspace plans. Rolling out from November 11, 2026.
- Published: 2026-11-12

## How can I show clients project progress without sharing my spreadsheet?

Ask Gemini to turn your tracker into a Sheets canvas timeline, then publish the canvas as its own read-only link. Choose automatic republishing if you update the sheet often, so the client always sees current status. Choose a static view for a one-time snapshot, like an end-of-month report. The client never gets access to your source sheet, so rates and notes stay private. As of November 2026, publishing works in Sheets on the web for Google AI Pro and Ultra and some Workspace plans.

## The prompt

Fill in the parts in [square brackets], or leave them and the AI will ask you for them.

```text
Build a Sheets canvas from this tracker that I can share with my client, [CLIENT NAME, e.g. Harbor Lane Bakery], as a read-only project timeline for [PROJECT NAME, e.g. their website refresh]. The columns are [YOUR COLUMNS, e.g. milestone, owner, due date, status]. Show a simple timeline from start to launch, with each milestone as a card showing its due date and status: done, in progress, or waiting on client. Put a clear 'Waiting on you' box at the top listing only the items the client owes me, with due dates. Show overall progress as a percentage of milestones done. Leave out [PRIVATE COLUMNS, e.g. hours, rates and internal notes], since the client will see this. Use calm colors and plain words, and make it easy to read on a phone.
```

## Step by step

1. Open your project tracker in Google Sheets on the web.
2. Ask Gemini to build a Sheets canvas with the prompt below.
3. Click the publish icon in the canvas toolbar, then click Publish canvas.
4. Choose automatic republishing, set the audience, then copy the link.
5. Send the link to your client once, and keep updating the sheet.

## What you'll get

A read-only timeline page with a 'Waiting on you' box and a progress percentage, published from your own sheet so it stays current.

## Good to know

**How can I show clients project progress without sharing my spreadsheet?** Ask Gemini to turn your tracker into a Sheets canvas timeline, then publish the canvas as its own read-only link. Choose automatic republishing if you update the sheet often, so the client always sees current status. Choose a static view for a one-time snapshot, like an end-of-month report. The client never gets access to your source sheet, so rates and notes stay private. As of November 2026, publishing works in Sheets on the web for Google AI Pro and Ultra and some Workspace plans.

**Which AI tools does this work in?** It works in Gemini. On this page, one tap copies the prompt and opens the app, so you just paste. Publishing works in Sheets on the web for Google AI Pro, Ultra and some Workspace plans. Rolling out from November 11, 2026.

**How long does it take?** About 15 minutes. It's rated "A few steps". There are 5 steps, listed above.

**What do I need before I start?** Just your details for 4 blanks: client name, project name, your columns and private columns. You can skip any, and your AI will ask for them.

**What will I get back?** A read-only timeline page with a 'Waiting on you' box and a progress percentage, published from your own sheet so it stays current.

Idea spotted on the official docs, shared by Google Workspace Updates: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/11/publish-sheets-canvas-as-standalone-link.html. The prompt is The Solo Creators' own version.

## Go further

Ready-made skills in the Solo Creators AI Studio (https://thesolocreators.com/studio/) that fit this: Website Audit (An evidence-cited, branded audit of any site, ready to hand a client); Slide Deck Designer (A blog post or an idea into a beautiful, on-brand deck. No Canva, no Gamma, no designer).

From AI Use Cases and Prompts by The Solo Creators: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/. Free to use; please link back to the page when you share it.