How to Automatically Insert the Date Onto a Spreadsheet

Use a function to insert the date into a spreadsheet.

Excel is a highly customizable spreadsheet application included in Microsoft Office. In addition to creating spreadsheets, users can create graphs, macros, pivot tables and calculations. Each cell in an Excel spreadsheet has the ability to be formatted to the user's discretion. To automatically insert the date onto a spreadsheet, you must format the spreadsheet and use a function to insert the correct date.

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft Excel and open the spreadsheet you wish to edit.

2. Select the cell into which you want to insert the date. If you would like to use several cells to make the date larger, select the cells and use the "Merge and Center" tool located in the "Alignment" section of the "Home" tab.

3. Click the "Function" button. The "Function" button resembles a symbol that looks like "fx" and is normally located to the right of the text field.

4. Type "Today" into the "Insert Function" box and click "Go." The "Today" function is listed as the top function in the list. Select "Today," if it is not selected, and click "OK." When creating a function in Excel, most functions require arguments--a type of formula--to calculate data. Using this function, there is no need to enter arguments. Excel informs you of this rule.

5. Click "OK" to continue. Excel automatically formats the date in an "xx/xx/20xx" format. If you would like to change this formatting, right click the cell and select "Format." Select "Date" and scroll down through the list of date formats. Select a format and press "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• If you would like to add the current date and time to a cell in your spreadsheet, substitute the "Now" function for the "Today" function.

References

• Microsoft: Insert the Current Date into a Cell
• Microsoft: Today Function
• Microsoft: Now Function