Inserting current date when number entered in cell & Circular reference error?

[Pheasant Plucker®]

I wonder if some kind soul can help please?

I have a formula in I4 that reads;
=IF(A12="","",IF(I4="",NOW(),I4))

What I believe used to happen was if I input a number in A12 the current
date was automagically inserted in I4

However now when I input a number in A12 I get an error that states;

Microsoft Excel cannot calculate a formula. Cell references in the formula
refer to the formula's result, creating a circular reference.
Try one of the following;
If you accidentally created the circular reference, click OK. This will
display the circular reference toolbar and help for using it to correct your
formula.
For more information about circular references and how to work with them,
please click Help.
To continue leaving the formula as it is, click Cancel

Sometimes a blue dot appears in I4 but no date...

The spreadsheet is protected but it has always been.

I do not recall altering the spreadsheet so is there any setting within
Excel 2000 that will affect or cause this error?

Maybe my formula is wrong?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

See the instructions in the "Using circular references and worksheet
functions" section of

http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/timestamp.html

 

[JR]

....I believe what you are looking for is " IF(A12=" "," ",TODAY()) " typed in
cell I4. Keep in mind that this formula will always give you the current
date, unless you make it static (i.e. tomorrow, it will show tomorrow's date).

 

[Pheasant Plucker®]

Thanks for the reply.

Tools/Options/Calculation and check the Iterations box worked for me and may
help others also!

Many thanks & regards,
-=pp=-

 

[Pheasant Plucker®]

Thanks for the reply.

Not being an Excel wizard and not wishing to upset something that used to
work I found the solution in the reply above.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Kind regards,
-=pp=-