10 Shortcuts For Working With Dates In Excel

Are you struggling to manage dates in Excel? Keep it simple with these 10 helpful shortcuts to save you time and effort. You can start using them today and easily manage your data!

Shortcut 1: Formatting Date Cells

Excel Date Cells Formatting Shortcut

Formatting date cells in Excel is an essential skill that saves time and improves productivity. The following guide outlines a shortcut for efficiently formatting date cells.

1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. Go to the Home tab, and under the Number group, select the drop-down arrow next to the Number Format box.
3. In the Format Cells dialog box, select the Date category.
4. Choose the date format you want to apply to the cells.
5. Select OK to save your changes.
6. Your cells are now formatted to reflect the date format you selected.

It’s worth noting that you can also use shortcut keys to achieve this result quickly. For instance, on a Windows PC, press Ctrl+1 to open the Format Cells dialog box, then navigate to the Date category to access various date formats.

Interestingly, this formatting date cell shortcut has been in existence since the inception of Excel. It is a longstanding feature that has continued to improve user experience and workflow in Excel.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Yuval Washington

Shortcut 2: Using TODAY Function

Using Today Function in Excel

The Today function in Excel is a shortcut that allows you to insert the current date in a cell. Here’s how to use it:

1. Select the cell where you want to insert the current date.
2. Type “=TODAY()” (without the quotes) in the formula bar.
3. Press Enter to insert the current date in the selected cell.
4. If you want to preserve the current date, copy and paste the cell value as a value.

It’s worth noting that the Today function updates every time the worksheet recalculates. So, if you open the worksheet tomorrow, the date will be updated to the current one.

To prevent the today’s date from updating, you can paste the value as a value. Simply copy the cell, right-click on the destination cell, select “Paste Special”, choose “Values” and click OK.

A guide to using the degree symbol shortcut in Excel

If you need to insert the degree symbol (°) in your worksheet, you can use a shortcut. Press “Alt” and “0176” on your keyboard’s numeric keypad, and the degree symbol will appear in the cell. This works in both Windows and Mac versions of Excel.

Using shortcuts not only saves time but also improves your productivity. By incorporating these tips into your workflow, you can work more efficiently with Excel.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Adam Arnold

Shortcut 3: Using NOW Function

Knowing how to use functions in Excel can save you time and effort. One such function is ‘Real-Time Function’. This function is also known as ‘Shortcut 3: Using NOW Function’. By using this function, you can display the current date and time in a cell, without the need to manually update it.

To use ‘Shortcut 3: Using NOW Function’, simply follow these four steps:

1. Select the cell where you want to display the current date and time.
2. Type “=NOW()” (without quotes) in the formula bar.
3. Press Enter.
4. The current date and time will be displayed in the selected cell.

It is important to note that the NOW function constantly updates in real-time, so if you want to keep a record of a specific date and time, you will need to copy and paste the value to a new cell.

One of the unique details about ‘Shortcut 3: Using NOW Function’ is that it is not affected by changes in computer or system time. This means that even if you change the date and time settings on your computer, the NOW function will always display the correct date and time.

I once worked with a client who had to keep track of the dates and times of multiple shipments. They were manually entering the date and time in each cell, which was time-consuming and prone to errors. By introducing them to the NOW function, they were able to save time and have more accurate records.

Knowing shortcuts like ‘Shortcut 3: Using NOW Function’ can greatly improve productivity when working with dates in Excel. Try using this function to save time and reduce errors in your work.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by David Woodhock

Shortcut 4: Converting Text to Dates

Converting Text to Dates in Excel is a crucial task that enhances data analysis and processing. Here’s how you can convert text to dates in Excel with ease:

1. First, select the range of cells that you want to convert.
2. Navigate to the Data tab and click on Text to Columns.
3. Choose the Delimited option and hit the Next button.
4. Deselect all delimiter options and choose “Other.” In the space provided, enter a forward slash “/”. Hit Next.
5. In the Column Data Format section, select Date and choose the date format you want.
6. Hit Finish. The dates will be converted from text to dates in seconds.

You can also use the formula =DATEVALUE() to convert text to dates. Simply select the cell where you want to enter the date and input the formula followed by the cell reference containing the date in text format.

It’s worth noting that once dates are converted from text to dates, you can use all Excel’s date and time functions and formulas to process and analyze the data.

Fun Fact: The first version of Microsoft Excel was launched in 1985.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Yuval Woodhock

Shortcut 5: Date AutoFill

Automate date entries in Excel using the Date AutoFill feature. Here’s how:

1. Type the starting date in a cell.
2. Hover the cursor over the bottom right of that cell until it changes into a black cross.
3. Click and hold the left mouse button and drag down as far as you need to.
4. Release the mouse button, and Excel will fill in the rest of the dates based on your starting date.
5. If you want a different interval, such as weekly or monthly, create a pattern by using the first few dates in the format you desire, then select the cells and drag the black cross to fill in the rest of the pattern.
6. Custom dates can also be created by typing the first two dates in the desired format and dragging the black cross until Excel fills in the rest.

A guide to using the Date AutoFill feature in Excel. This feature saves time by quickly filling in dates in your desired format.

Pro Tip: Use Ctrl + ; to quickly enter the current date in a cell in Excel.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by David Duncun

Shortcut 6: Using Date Functions

Using Date Functions in Excel can simplify your work and save time. Here’s a quick guide to make the most of this shortcut.

1. Select the cell where you want to insert the date function.
2. Type ” = ” followed by the date function you want to use (e.g., TODAY() to insert today’s date).
3. Press “Enter” to see the result.
4. To change the format of the date, select the cell and go to “Format Cells.”

By using date functions, you can insert dates easily, without the need to manually enter them. Moreover, Excel’s date functions allow you to perform calculations with dates, making your work more accurate and efficient.

Pro Tip: Learn the syntax of different date functions to use them effectively and save time.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Yuval Woodhock

Shortcut 7: Calculating Age

When working with dates in Excel, Shortcut 7 helps you easily calculate someone’s age. Follow these steps for a quick and accurate result:

1. Identify the cell containing the birthdate and use the TODAY function to input today’s date in a different cell.
2. Subtract the birthdate cell from the today’s date cell to get the difference in days.
3. Divide the result by 365.25 to account for leap years.
4. Format the cell as a whole number to get the age.

Remember to update the TODAY function cell to recalculate the age correctly.

It’s important to note that the formula may not be 100% precise as it doesn’t account for edge cases such as leap years and time zones. However, it provides a close enough approximation for most cases.

According to Microsoft, using the TODAY function in Excel automatically updates each time the worksheet is opened, ensuring accurate calculations.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Joel Jones

Shortcut 8: Finding the Beginning or End of a Month

To quickly locate the beginning or end of a month in Excel, use a specific shortcut that simplifies the process. Get prompt results with this seamless trick.

1. Identify the cell where you want to display the beginning or end of the month.
2. Enter the formula “=EOMONTH(A1,0)+1” to display the beginning of the month.
3. Enter the formula “=EOMONTH(A1,0)” to show the end of the month.
4. Press enter and check the results displayed in the cell you have selected.
5. Check for accuracy by trying this shortcut on various cells to locate the beginning or end of other months.

Keep in mind that this shortcut is highly efficient when working on data that consists of various dates.

It is important to remember that when dealing with the end of the month, this shortcut locates the final day of the month. It is a useful trick to help you quickly calculate time-sensitive data and summarize monthly data.

In the past, when I dealt with creating monthly reports, utilizing this shortcut to locate the beginning and end of each month saved a great deal of time. This shortcut can make the difference between a smooth and seamless data experience or a frustrating one.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by David Duncun

Shortcut 9: Using Conditional Formatting with Dates

To enhance the appearance of dates, you can use a specific feature in Excel known as “Conditional Formatting.” This feature allows you to format cells based on specific conditions such as dates. Here’s a quick guide on how to use the “Conditional Formatting” feature with dates in Excel:

1. Select the range of cells you want to format.
2. Go to the “Home” tab and click on “Conditional Formatting.”
3. From the dropdown menu, select “Highlight Cell Rules” followed by “A Date Occurring.”
4. Select the appropriate options according to your needs, such as the type of date and cell color.
5. Click “OK” to apply the formatting to the selected cells.
6. Your date range will now be formatted based on your chosen criteria.

To get the most out of this feature, you can apply it to specific date ranges or use Excel functions such as “NOW()” and “TODAY()” to make more precise comparisons.

Finally, to make your Excel sheet more professional, it’s a good idea to use the degree symbol shortcut in Excel to avoid typing out the word “degree” repeatedly. Simply press “CTRL” + “SHIFT” + “2” to insert the degree symbol. This works in both Windows and Mac versions of Excel.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Yuval Duncun

Shortcut 10: Filtering by Date Range

Filtering Data by Date Range in Excel

Filtering data by date range is an essential shortcut in Excel that allows users to view specific data, such as data within a certain month, quarter or year. Here are three points to help you filter data by date range.

1. Select the column range that contains the dates you wish to filter. Go to the Data tab, click on ‘Filter’ or use the shortcut Alt + A + T to open the ‘Filter’ dropdown menu.
2. In the Filter dropdown menu, click on ‘Date Filters’ and select the date range that you wish to filter by. You can then select the start and end dates for the range, or choose from predefined date ranges such as ‘Last Month’ or ‘Last Week’
3. Click ‘OK’ and the column will be filtered to show data within the specified date range.

It’s important to note that you can filter by multiple date ranges within the same column. This is particularly useful when working with large data sets.

Pro Tip: To quickly clear all filters in your worksheet, use the shortcut Alt + A + C. This can save time when working through multiple filtered columns or when removing filters to view all data.

By using these simple steps, you can save time and easily view relevant data in Excel when working with dates. A guide to using the degree symbol shortcut in Excel may also be helpful when working with data inputs that contain angles or measurements.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Harry Washington

FAQs about 10 Shortcuts For Working With Dates In Excel

What are the 10 shortcuts for working with dates in Excel?

The 10 most useful shortcuts for working with dates in Excel are:

• Ctrl + ; to insert the current date into a cell
• Ctrl + Shift + ; to insert the current time into a cell
• Ctrl + Shift + #: to format a date as a number
• Ctrl + Shift + @: to format a date as a time
• Ctrl + 1 then select ‘Custom’: to create a custom date format
• Ctrl + ; (or Ctrl + Shift + 😉 then drag: to fill a series of dates
• Ctrl + Shift + $: to apply currency formatting to a date
• Ctrl + Shift + %: to apply percentage formatting to a date
• Ctrl + Shift + &: to apply underline formatting to a date
• Ctrl + Shift + ~: to show the formula and result of a date calculation