Difference between NOW() and TODAY()

[Michael.Tarnowski]

Hi community,

I made the following experience: when implementing a time stamp
mechanismen a can chose between NOW() and TODAY().

But when I use NOW() I get the current date *and* time of a event, but
when using TODAY() I only get the actual date.
E.g. formatting a cell as TT. MMM JJ, hh:mm ;;

NOW() returns: 10. Feb. 09, 22:22
TODAY() returns 10. Feb. 09, 00:00,

thus TODAY() cuts the time information, whereas NOW() returns the
current date *and* current time, but has the drawback that the
function changes only when the worksheet is calculated or when a macro
that contains the function is run. It is not updated continuously,
(excerpt of Excel help).

For time stamping I use circular references like =IF(D10=0;NOW();D10).
This is coded in a cell/row in sheet A. In sheet B I want to insert
this row of sheet A by cut-n-paste, and the time stamp in sheet B
shall update to the time when the row (of sheet A) is inserted into
sheet B.

The problem I' am faced is, that =IF(D10=0;NOW();D10) shows when
inserted into B the *last* time update of sheet A, but not the current
time. Updating or re-calculating of sheet A has now effect since D10
is not equal zero - it shows the old value already.
The only way to update =IF(D10=0;NOW();D10) in sheet A to the current
date & time is to put the cursor into the formular bar and to hit
<return> *before* cut-n-pasting the row into sheet B.

Since I want to insert the timestamp into sheet B by pressing a button/
a macro in B, I'am looking for a mechanism to update sheet A to the
actual / current date & time and to insert it then into sheet B. I
would preferre a formula solution.

Any ideas?
Michael

P.S: sorry for multiple posting, I had already posted a similar
description but deleted the post undeliberatly.

 

[Shane Devenshire]

Hi,

Both NOW and TODAY are volatile, which means they both recalculate whenever
the spreadsheet recalculates.

You can force recalculation by pressing F9.

 

[Michael.Tarnowski]

Hi,

Both NOW and TODAY are volatile, which means they both recalculate whenever
the spreadsheet recalculates.

You can force recalculation by pressing F9.

--
If this helps, please click the Yes button

Cheers,
Shane Devenshire

Hi Shane,
thank you for your reply. I understand that NOW() and TODAY() updates
when the sheet is recalculated. The problem is the field formula =IF
(D10=0;NOW();D10). This enters the old time stamp value when pasted
and never changes again since value is <> 0 - this is intended, the
time stamp should not chance after entered once. But the time stamp
should get the *current* time not the old one when entered.
Michael