Inserting the Date and Time into a Worksheet

It happens often, current date and/or time is to be added to a worksheet, perhaps while making a time stamped log of activities. Maybe there is a requirements to have the current data or time displayed automatically in a cell every time formulas are recalculated. There are several ways to insert the current date and time in a cell.

Insert a Static Date or Time

A static value in a worksheet remains constant when the worksheet is recalculated or opened. Excel can insert the current data or time as a static value in a call, in order to do this Excel “takes a snapshot” of the current date and then inserts the value in the cell. That cell’s value doesn’t change, so it’s considered static.

The following key combinations allow inserting of the current date and time

Insert an Updating Date or Time

A dynamic value is one where the value is recalculated or updated when the worksheet is recalculated or opened. A date or time can be a dynamic value by using a function to return the date or time.

To insert the current date or time so that it is updatable, use the TODAY and NOW functions.

Note The results of the TODAY and NOW functions change only when the worksheet is calculated or when a macro that contains the function is run. Cells that contain these functions are not updated continuously. The date and time values that are used are taken from the computer’s system clock.