Help with some logistics

[StompS]

I am trying to put together a worksheet to track properties that a company
purchases. I use excel and do simple formulas and layout and have a few
questions:

The properties go through "flow" of processes and, at any given point, are
in a "stage". In that stage there is some data that needs to be viewed but
other data is irrelevant at that time (but still needs to be present). I
want to be able to print out an "update sheet" that will print the
properties out by stage and, in any given stage has the pertinent data in
the print area.

As i have only worked with worksheets and workbooks (haven't worked with
tables or such), I am assuming that I need to incorporate them somehow. I
envision a master "area" or "table" or "worksheet" where all the data is
entered. There will also se a drop down list that will have all of the
"stages". The sheet I want to create will have the properties listed by
stage and, at each stage, have certain fields viewable. I'm not sure how to
tell excel to extract the data for display when a particular condition
exists.

Also, I'm trying to figure out how I can have a 'date field' flag itself
when it reaches a certain date. I know how to calculate it but I would like
that field's background to become red when the formula is true so, at a
glance, we can see that area that needs attention.

Thanks for any help!

 

[StompS]

I figured out conditional formatting so the color issue has been taken care
of...... : )