Difference between NOW() and TODAY()

[Michael.Tarnowski]

Hi community,

in excel help I found the information

TODAY():
"Returns the serial number of the current date. The serial number is
the date-time code used by Microsoft Excel for date and time
calculations. If the cell format was General before the function was
entered, the result is formatted as a date."


NOW():
"Returns the serial number of the current date and time. If the cell
format was General before the function was entered, the result is
formatted as a date.
....
The NOW function changes only when the worksheet is calculated or when
a macro that contains the function is run. It is not updated
continuously. "

I have a cell formatted as TT. MMM JJ, hh:mm ;;

when I copy-n-paste a cell showing NOW() I get the current time but an
older date; when I copy-n-paste a cell showing today() I get the
current date but the time 00:00.
I want to have after copy-n-pasting the current date and the current
time. Do I have to force a re-calculation (F9) or calculate in VBA?

Michael

 

[Niek Otten]

NOW() should give you what you require. Can you give an example of what you
get?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

What is showing up in the formula bar when you copy-n-paste the cell
showing NOW()?

Are the cell(s) you're copying from in the same workbook as the cell(s)
you're copying to? Are the workbooks set to the same date format
(Tools/Options/Calculation)?

 

[Michael.Tarnowski]

To clarify my posting: I want to use a time stamping mechanism by
using a circular definition

=IF(D10=0;NOW();D10)

the point is: when should I use NOW() and when TODAY() to get a
timestamp like 10.Feb.2009 15:45 (actual dates and times)?

Michael

 

[Michael.Tarnowski]

What is showing up in the formula bar when you copy-n-paste the cell
showing NOW()?

Are the cell(s) you're copying from in the same workbook as the cell(s)
you're copying to? Are the workbooks set to the same date format
(Tools/Options/Calculation)?

I want to realize a timestamping mechanism by using circular
references. In sheet A I have a cell with =IF(D10=0;NOW();D10); when
copy-n-pasting this row to sheet B an older (the last update of sheetA!
D10) is showed in sheet B; but I want the time of copy-n-pasting.

Michael

 

[Michael.Tarnowski]

I want to realize a timestamping mechanism by using circular
references. In sheet A I have a cell with =IF(D10=0;NOW();D10); when
copy-n-pasting this row to sheet B an older (the last update of sheetA!
D10) is showed in sheet B; but I want the time of copy-n-pasting.

Michael

I realized that putting the cursor in the formula bar and hitting
<Return> before copy-n-pating updates the cell I want to copy, thus I
get the current time in sheet B when I paste. How can I force the
update of sheet A before copy-n-paste to sheet B?

Michael

 

[David Biddulph]

You would need NOW().
TODAY() gives zero time on the current day.

 

[Michael.Tarnowski]

You would need NOW().
TODAY() gives zero time on the current day.

Thanks David, you affirmed my experiments
Michael

 

[Michael.Tarnowski]

You would need NOW().
TODAY() gives zero time on the current day.

Thanks David, you affirmed my experiments
Michael

 

[Michael.Tarnowski]

You would need NOW().
TODAY() gives zero time on the current day.

Thanks David, you affirmed my experiments
Michael