Category: Microsoft Excel

The DATE function in Microsoft Excel is used to assemble a date from three separate pieces of data, being the year, month and day. This is useful if the information is provided in separate columns and you need to combine them. DATE will take the year, month and day and convert them to a single serial number representing the date. The result is automatically formatted as a date.
The general function to convert numbers into a date is =DATE(year, month, day).
Ensure that the data you are working with in your Excel worksheet looks similar to the screen capture in Step 1.

The NOW function returns the current date based on the computer’s system date, the NOW function returns the current date and the current time. While the NOW function can be used for dates, it is mostly used for working with time arithmetic. Read on to learn how to use this function!
The general function to work with time arithmetic is =NOW().
Before you start, ensure that the data you are working with in your Excel worksheet looks similar to the screen capture in Step 1.

Excel converts dates into sequential numbers beginning from January 1, 1900, you will be able to use a range of special functions dedicated to dates. The TODAY function returns the sequential numbers for today’s date and will update accordingly if the workbook is opened on another day. Get excited!
The general function to find out the sequential number for today’s date is =TODAY().
It is also handy to know that the sequential number for TODAY changes every day, so your worksheet will show updated results each time you open it.
Before you start, ensure that the data you are working with in your Excel worksheet looks similar to what is present in the screen capture in Step 1.

The MOD function is useful maths function that will return the remainder after a division has taken place. MOD is an abbreviation of modulo or modulus. While it actually performs division based on the two arguments that must be given, it only returns the amount remaining after that division has occurred. Follow on to learn how it works!