Key Takeaway:
- Using shortcuts in Excel can save time and boost productivity. One such shortcut is the ability to quickly enter today’s date into a cell.
- The TODAY() function is a built-in function in Excel that automatically updates to display the current date. To access this function, you can enter it manually, use a keyboard shortcut, or use Excel’s date shortcut.
- Adding date shortcuts to the Quick Access Toolbar can further streamline your workflow and make it easy to access frequently used functions.
Are you tired of manually entering today’s date in Excel every time you work on a spreadsheet? You’re in luck! We’ll show you a simple shortcut that will save you time and effort. You can now stay up-to-date with just one click of a button.
Shortcut to enter today’s date in Excel
Entering today’s date in Excel is made easy with a quick shortcut. By using this Excel Transpose Shortcut, you can quickly swap data between rows and columns. Here’s how to use it in five simple steps:
- Open the Excel spreadsheet where you want to enter today’s date.
- Click on the cell where you want to enter the date.
- Press the shortcut keys: “Ctrl + ;” (semi-colon) keys.
- The current date will be added to the cell in the format “mm/dd/yyyy“.
- Save the spreadsheet to store the date.
It’s important to note that this shortcut works for entering today’s date only and not for future or past dates. For those specific dates, you will need to enter them manually.
When you use this shortcut, Excel automatically enters today’s date into the selected cell without any additional formatting required. This can save time and reduce the risk of errors in data entry.
Interestingly, the Excel Transpose Shortcut was not initially created to enter today’s date but to quickly switch the orientation of data. However, users discovered that it could also be used to add the current date to cells. And since then, it has been a popular shortcut among Excel users worldwide.
In summary, using the Excel Transpose Shortcut can save time while entering today’s date in Excel. With just a few clicks, you can add the current date to any cell without having to manually enter it.
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Using shortcuts in Excel
Using Productivity-Boosting Techniques in Excel
Excel is a powerful tool that can improve productivity in many ways. One of these ways is by using shortcuts that can save time and effort. Here are four easy steps to using these shortcuts:
- Open the Excel application and select the desired spreadsheet.
- Press Ctrl + (desired shortcut key) to perform the action.
- For a list of all possible shortcuts, press the F1 key.
- To customize shortcuts, go to the File menu, select Options, and then select Customize Ribbon.
In addition to shortcuts, there are other productivity-boosting techniques that can benefit users. These include the Excel Transpose Shortcut, which allows quick data swapping between rows and columns. By understanding such techniques, users can improve their Excel skills and become more efficient.
Here’s a true fact: According to Microsoft, Excel is used by more than 750 million people worldwide.
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Using the TODAY() function
Know how to manually enter TODAY() in Excel. Use keyboard shortcuts to speed it up. Leverage Excel’s date shortcut for TODAY(). Get the tools to streamline use of TODAY() function. This section delves into specifics of these three sub-sections.
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Entering the TODAY() function manually
The process of inputting TODAY() function manually to get the current date can be done easily using Excel.
- Open a new Excel sheet and select a cell where you want to display the current date.
- Type “=TODAY()” into the cell and press enter. The current date will appear in the cell.
- You can customize the date format by selecting the formatted cells under ‘Home’ tab.
- If you copy and paste this formula into other cells, it will automatically calculate the current date based on your system clock time.
- This formula will not change once set up, therefore, every time you open the file, TODAY() will output today’s date automatically.
In summary, TODAY() can easily display today’s date without much effort. Keep in mind that if you use this formula each day for multiple files, only one version needs to be changed and it will update across all instances.
It is worth noting that this formula may be used for financial reporting with real-time analysis accuracy.
Fact: According to Microsoft Office Support, “TODAY function returns a value that represents the current date.”
Forget the past, use the TODAY() function and stay up-to-date with Excel shortcuts!
Using keyboard shortcut to enter TODAY()
To quickly enter today’s date in Excel, you can use a keyboard shortcut that applies the TODAY() function.
Here is a 3-step guide on how to use this keyboard shortcut:
- Select the cell where you want the date to appear.
- Press Ctrl + ; (semi-colon) and then Enter.
- The current date will be entered into the selected cell.
It’s important to note that this shortcut will enter a static value for today’s date, meaning it won’t update automatically. If you want the date to update every time the sheet is opened or recalculated, you should use the TODAY() function instead.
Aside from using it as a shortcut, you can also manually enter =TODAY()
into a cell to have it show today’s date. Additionally, you can format the cell to display just the day, month, year or any combination of those.
Don’t miss out on saving time by utilizing this simple yet effective shortcut when working with dates in Excel. Give it a try and see how much faster your work becomes!
Today’s date just got easier with Excel’s TODAY()
function, giving procrastinators a reason to celebrate.
Using Excel’s date shortcut for TODAY()
Excel’s Shortcut to Get Today’s Date
Have you been searching for a date shortcut on Excel? Here’s how to use Excel’s built-in function, TODAY(), to get today’s current date.
- First, click the cell you wish to input the current date.
- Next, type the “=” sign in that cell.
- After typing “=”, type “TODAY()” with no spaces between the letters and parentheses.
- To display your date in a certain date format, select the cell with today’s date.
- Then select “Format Cells” under “Number” in the Home menu bar or right-click on the cell and choose “Format Cells.”
- Finally, from there adjust any formatting as needed.
Did you know that Excel has other useful built-in functions for dates and times? Check out Microsoft’s support page for more information.
A True Fact:
According to Microsoft Office Support, TODAY() is a volatile function since it updates continuously rather than only when values change in your worksheet or workbook.
Time flies when you’re using the TODAY() function and the Quick Access Toolbar to add date shortcuts.
Adding date shortcuts to the Quick Access Toolbar
Adding date shortcuts to the Quick Access Toolbar can save you time and effort while working on Excel spreadsheets. Follow these three simple steps to add this functionality to your Excel toolbar:
- Click the “Customize Quick Access Toolbar” arrow.
- Select “More Commands.”
- In the “Excel Options” dialog box, select “Commands Not in the Ribbon,” then scroll down to “Date and Time.”
With these date shortcuts added to your toolbar, you can easily insert the current date, as well as yesterday’s and tomorrow’s dates, with a simple click.
It’s worth noting that the Excel Transpose Shortcut: How to Quickly Swap Data Between Rows and Columns can also be added to your toolbar in a similar way, further streamlining your Excel workflow.
Interestingly, the feature of adding date shortcuts to Excel’s Quick Access Toolbar has been around for several versions, with the earliest mention dating back to Excel 2010. This demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to continually improving the user experience and providing time-saving features to its users.
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Other date-related shortcuts in Excel
Excel is equipped with several date-related shortcuts that can simplify data entry and manipulation. One such shortcut is the Today’s Date shortcut, which inserts the current date into a cell with just a few keystrokes.
The table below showcases some other date-related shortcuts in Excel that are valuable to know:
Shortcut | Action |
---|---|
Ctrl+; | Inserts the current date into a cell |
Ctrl+Shift+; | Inserts the current time into a cell |
Ctrl+Arrow Key | Moves the cursor to the end of the data in a row or column |
Ctrl+Shift+# | Converts a cell to date format |
Ctrl+Shift+@ | Converts a cell to time format |
It’s important to note that when using these shortcuts, the regional settings on your computer may affect the format of the date and time displayed.
In addition to these shortcuts, Excel also has a Transpose shortcut that can quickly swap data between rows and columns. To use this shortcut, select the data you want to transpose, copy it, then select the cell where you want the transposed data to appear and use the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+V. From the Paste Special dialog box, select the Transpose option and click OK. This will paste the data with the rows and columns swapped.
To make the most of these shortcuts, practice using them frequently to improve your workflow and efficiency. Additionally, pay attention to any formatting or regional settings that may impact how the shortcuts function.
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Final thoughts and tips
When using Excel, it’s important to know the shortcuts that can save you time and effort. One such shortcut is the Today’s Date function, which allows you to easily input the current date into a cell. To use this shortcut, simply press Control + ; on your keyboard and the current date will be inserted into the selected cell.
Another tip to keep in mind is to format the cell to display the date in the format that you prefer. You can do this by right-clicking on the cell and selecting Format Cells. From there, choose the Date format that you want and click OK.
Finally, if you need to quickly swap data between rows and columns in Excel, use the Excel Transpose Shortcut. Simply select the data that you want to transpose, press Control + C to copy it, then right-click on the cell where you want the transposed data to appear and select Transpose from the Paste Special options.
In my experience, using these shortcuts has saved me a significant amount of time and has improved the accuracy of my work. I highly recommend incorporating them into your Excel workflow to streamline your processes and increase your productivity.
Image credits: chouprojects.com by Adam Washington
Some Facts About How to Use the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel:
- ✅ The keyboard shortcut for inserting today’s date in Excel is Ctrl+; (Source: Excel Easy)
- ✅ Using the Ctrl+; shortcut inserts the current date as a static value, meaning it will not change when the worksheet is recalculated. (Source: Excel Jet)
- ✅ Another keyboard shortcut for inserting today’s date and time is Ctrl+Shift+; (Source: Excel Campus)
- ✅ The TODAY() function can also be used to insert today’s date, but it will always update to the current date when the worksheet is recalculated. (Source: Microsoft 365 Blog)
- ✅ Custom date formats can be applied to the cell containing the date to display it in a specific way. (Source: Ablebits)
FAQs about How To Use The Today’S Date Shortcut In Excel
1) How do I use the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel?
You can use the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel by pressing the following combination of keys: Ctrl + ;
. This will insert the current date into the cell.
2) Can I use the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel on a Mac?
Yes, you can use the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel on a Mac by pressing the following combination of keys: ⌘ + ;
.
3) What if I want to use a specific date instead of the current date?
If you want to use a specific date instead of the current date, you can simply type the date into the cell. Alternatively, you can enter the date in a format that Excel recognizes, such as mm/dd/yyyy
or dd-mm-yyyy
.
4) Can I use the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel in a formula?
Yes, you can use the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel in a formula by using the TODAY()
function. This function will return the current date. For example, if you want to calculate the number of days between today and a future date in cell A1, you can use the formula =A1-TODAY()
.
5) Can I format the date displayed by the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel?
Yes, you can format the date displayed by the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel to match your preferences by using the Format Cells dialog box. To do this, right-click the cell, select Format Cells, and choose the date format you want.
6) Will the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel automatically update to the current date?
No, the Today’s Date Shortcut in Excel will not automatically update to the current date. You will need to press the shortcut keys again to insert the current date into the cell.