Working with =Today()

[CTupper]

Hello, Looking for a little help. I set up an excel worksheet that uses the =Today() function as the primary function in several calculations. The worksheet is used by a labeling software. The spreadsheet calculates the lot number and expiration date based on "today's date" which is calculated from the =Today() function. My problem is that =Today() will not change unless the spreadsheet is opened, saved and closed. Is there a way to make the spreadsheet do the calculations without opening and saving the spreadsheet? For example, if I want the label to have today's date on it and the spreadsheet has been opened and saved today then today's date will print on the label. If I run the software tomorrow and I don't open and save the spreadsheet, then it will print yesterday's date on the label.

Thank you!

[shg]

How is the software retrieving the values without opening the workbook?

[CTupper]

There is a link in the software that connects it to the excel worksheet.

[shg]

Then you're going to be stuck opening, saving, and closing the workbook before you run the software.

That could probably be done with a shell script that does both that and runs the software, but I'm not the guy to help.

[FDibbins]

My problem is that =Today() will not change unless the spreadsheet is opened, saved and closed.

Not completely accurate. You just need to open it (provided it is set to auto-calc), and =TODAY() will update. If you need to work on a closed WB that contains =TODAY(), then yes, the WB will need to be saved

[mashrani]

As an alternative, you can create a VBA macro which opens, saves and closes the workbook (you can also assign path in macro if the path is static). You need to probably click just a button (assign macro to it). I think this will be lot easier than manually opening the excel everyday.