NOW

Returns the serial number of the current date and time.

Syntax

NOW( )

Remarks

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows and Microsoft Excel 97 for the Macintosh use different default date systems. Microsoft Excel for Windows uses the 1900 date system, in which serial numbers correspond to the dates January 1, 1900, through December 31, 9999. Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh uses the 1904 date system, in which serial numbers correspond to the dates January 1, 1904, through December 31, 9999.
• Numbers to the right of the decimal point in the serial number represent the time; numbers to the left represent the date. For example, in the 1900 date system, the serial number 367.5 represents the date-time combination 12:00 P.M., January 1, 1901.
• You can change the date system by selecting or clearing the 1904 date system check box on the Calculation tab of the Options command (Tools menu).
• The date system is changed automatically when you open a document from another platform. For example, if you are working in Microsoft Excel for Windows and you open a document created in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, the 1904 date system check box is selected automatically.
• 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.

Examples

If you are using the 1900 date system and your computer's built-in clock is set to 12:30:00 P.M., 1-Jan-1987, then:

NOW() equals 31778.52083

Ten minutes later:

NOW() equals 31778.52778