TODAY and NOW functions in Excel - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - TODAY and NOW functions

Dashboard Goal

This dashboard helps you track current dates and times for daily tasks and deadlines. It answers: "What is today's date?" and "What is the current time right now?" so you can plan your day better.

Sample Data

Task	Deadline Date	Deadline Time
Submit Report	2024-06-20	17:00
Team Meeting	2024-06-21	09:30
Client Call	2024-06-22	14:00
Project Review	2024-06-23	11:00
Send Invoice	2024-06-24	16:00

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Today's Date
  Formula: =TODAY()
  Shows the current date updating automatically each day.
• KPI Card: Current Time
  Formula: =NOW()
  Shows the current date and time updating every time the sheet recalculates.
• Table: Tasks with Deadline Status
  Formula in new column "Status": =IF(B2<TODAY(), "Past Due", IF(B2=TODAY(), "Due Today", "Upcoming"))
  This shows if a task deadline is past, today, or upcoming based on today's date.
• Countdown to Next Deadline
  Formula: =MIN(IF(B2:B6>=TODAY(), B2:B6))-TODAY() (entered as array formula or with LET)
  Shows how many days until the next upcoming deadline.

Dashboard Layout

+-------------------+-------------------+
|   Today's Date    |   Current Time    |
|   [TODAY()]      |    [NOW()]        |
+-------------------+-------------------+
|       Tasks with Deadline Status Table       |
|  Task | Deadline | Time | Status               |
+----------------------------------------------+
| Countdown to Next Deadline: [X days]         |
+----------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

You can add a date filter to show tasks only for a selected date range. When you change the filter, the "Tasks with Deadline Status" table updates to show only tasks in that range. The countdown updates to the next deadline in the filtered list. The "Today's Date" and "Current Time" cards always show the real current date and time.

Self Check

If you add a filter to show only tasks with deadlines on or after 2024-06-22, which components update?

• The "Tasks with Deadline Status" table updates to show only tasks from 2024-06-22 and later.
• The "Countdown to Next Deadline" updates to show days until the earliest deadline in the filtered list.
• The "Today's Date" and "Current Time" cards do NOT change because they always show the real current date and time.

Key Result

Dashboard showing today's date, current time, task deadlines with status, and countdown to next deadline using TODAY and NOW functions.

Practice

1. What does the Excel function TODAY() return when entered in a cell?

easy

A. The current date without the time

B. The current time without the date

C. The current date and time

D. The date and time of the last file save

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of TODAY()

   The function TODAY() returns only the current date, not including time.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   NOW() returns date and time, so TODAY() is only date.

3. Final Answer:

   The current date without the time -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   TODAY() = current date only [OK]

Hint: TODAY() shows date only, no time included [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing TODAY() with NOW()
• Expecting time to appear with TODAY()
• Thinking TODAY() updates only when file is opened

2. Which of the following is the correct way to write the formula that returns the current date and time in Excel?

easy

A. =NOW()

B. =TODAY()

C. =DATE()

D. =TIME()

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the function for current date and time

   NOW() returns both current date and time.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   TODAY() returns only date; DATE() and TIME() require arguments.

3. Final Answer:

   =NOW() -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   NOW() = current date and time [OK]

Hint: Use NOW() for date and time, TODAY() for date only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using TODAY() to get time
• Writing DATE() or TIME() without arguments
• Missing equal sign in formula

3. If cell A1 contains the formula =NOW() and the current date and time is June 15, 2024, 3:30 PM, what will be displayed in A1 (assuming default date-time format)?

medium

A. 6/15/2024

B. 3:30 PM

C. 6/15/2024 3:30 PM

D. 15-Jun-2024

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what NOW() returns

   NOW() returns current date and time as a serial number formatted by default to show both.

2. Step 2: Interpret default formatting

   Default format shows date and time together, e.g., "6/15/2024 3:30 PM".

3. Final Answer:

   6/15/2024 3:30 PM -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   NOW() shows date and time [OK]

Hint: NOW() shows date and time together by default [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting only date or only time from NOW()
• Confusing default date format with custom formats
• Ignoring time portion in NOW() output

4. You entered =TODAY() in cell B2, but it shows a date from last week instead of today's date. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. Excel does not support TODAY() function

B. TODAY() function requires arguments to update

C. The cell is formatted as text

D. The computer's system date is set incorrectly

Solution

1. Step 1: Check function behavior

   TODAY() updates automatically to current date based on system clock.

2. Step 2: Analyze possible causes

   If date is old, system date is likely incorrect; TODAY() needs no arguments and Excel supports it.

3. Final Answer:

   The computer's system date is set incorrectly -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   TODAY() depends on system date [OK]

Hint: Check your computer's date if TODAY() shows wrong date [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking TODAY() needs arguments
• Assuming Excel doesn't support TODAY()
• Not checking cell formatting or system date

5. You want to create a spreadsheet that shows the current date and time in cell A1 and automatically updates every time the sheet recalculates. Which formula should you use, and why?

hard

A. =TODAY() because it updates date and time automatically

B. =NOW() because it updates both date and time automatically

C. =TODAY() + NOW() to combine date and time

D. =NOW() but it only updates when you open the file

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify function that updates date and time

   NOW() returns current date and time and updates on recalculation.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   TODAY() returns only date; adding TODAY() + NOW() is incorrect; NOW() updates on recalculation, not just file open.

3. Final Answer:

   =NOW() because it updates both date and time automatically -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   NOW() updates date and time on recalculation [OK]

Hint: Use NOW() for auto-updating date and time [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using TODAY() expecting time to update
• Adding TODAY() and NOW() incorrectly
• Thinking NOW() updates only on file open