Excel 2007 : making Excel 2007 show the "date"

THORmx · 07-09-2008, 12:30 AM

Hi,

I am having a hard time with this one. I can usually always get it to work in word, but have a helluva time working it into Excel.

I want it to display the current date, from the system, whenever I open the file. Problem is, when I hit "format" cell to show the one with the day (and the asterisk), it never does it. It will show the date I originally put in there.

Any ideas?

Thanks, and great forum

**shg** · 07-09-2008, 12:38 AM

You could create a default template, Book.xls (stored in your XLSTART directory) with the formula =DATE() in a cell. You can also type Ctrl+; to enter the current date in a cell.

Problem is, when I hit "format" cell to show the one with the day (and the asterisk), it never does it.

You've lost me on that.

THORmx · 07-09-2008, 03:59 AM

Originally Posted by shg

You could create a default template, Book.xls (stored in your XLSTART directory) with the formula =DATE() in a cell. You can also type Ctrl+; to enter the current date in a cell.

You've lost me on that.

I'm sorry I lost you. I'll try to explain a little more clearly. You know when you right click a cell, and click the option "FORMAT CELLS" and it gives you options such as "number, alignment, font, etc etc". Under the "NUMBER" option, you can choose "general, number, currency, accounting, DATE, etc". Well, I would choose "DATE" and then the second option, which has an asterisk (*) next to it. It says that it is supposed to change with system time, but doesn't.

Could you explain exactly how I'd enter that =DATE() thing? I already have a document going on, that I can't create a new default.

Also, great shortcut on entering the current date. I'm hoping I can figure this out.

Thanks for your help.

**shg** · 07-09-2008, 11:12 AM

Well, I would choose "DATE" and then the second option, which has an asterisk (*) next to it. It says that it is supposed to change with system time, but doesn't.

It doesn't say it changes with the system time, it says it changes with the operating system -- meaning the long and short date formats in your Control Panel regional settings.

=DATE() returns the current date

=NOW() returns the current date and time.

Both will change as the sheet is recalculated (DATE less often than NOW ...)

**royUK** · 07-09-2008, 11:56 AM

I think you have totally confused SHG!

=TODAY() returns the date which is volatile, it will change automatically.

=DATE(1900,4,1) will return 1/4/1900

Date is a VBA Function to return the current date