20 Excel Date Shortcuts That Will Save You Time

Are you tired of manually inputting dates in Excel? You don’t have to! Check out this list of 20 shortcuts that will make your workflow smoother and faster. Save yourself time and energy with these simple tips.

Mastering Excel Date Formats

Are you an Excel user? It’s time to master date formats! Here are some tips and tricks to help. First, let’s talk about the various date formats used in Excel and why they’re important. Then, we’ll look into how to convert between date formats. With this knowledge, you can confidently manage Excel’s date formats and save time. So, let’s get started!

Image credits: pixelatedworks.com by Adam Jones

Understand different date formats used in Excel

Excel stores dates as serial numbers. The format of the date depends on the cell’s number format. Dates can be entered in different formats, like mm/dd/yyyy or dd-mm-yyyy.

Therefore, when a date is entered in a cell, Excel changes it to a serial number. You won’t be able to see this serial number unless you alter the cell format. For example, when January 1st, 2022 is inserted, Excel converts it to 44518.

To prevent confusion and mistakes when dealing with dates in Excel, it is important to comprehend how different date formats work. Utilizing shortcuts is an excellent way to reduce time and streamline your work.

If you master the different date formats Excel provides, you can conveniently sort and filter data by dates, make pivot tables that classify data by months or years, and use formulas to determine the distinction between two dates.

Don’t forget to learn Excel date formats as it can significantly enhance your proficiency and productivity when dealing with dates. Learning to use shortcuts for formatting dates will also make your job simpler.

In the subsequent section, “Learn to convert between various date formats,” we will demonstrate to you how to swiftly and simply convert dates from one format to another.

Learn to convert between various date formats

For quick date format changes, use the shortcuts Ctrl + Shift + # for numbers and Ctrl + Shift + @ for time. Also, use the =TEXT function to switch a specific date format. When importing dates, they may not work correctly. Try changing computer settings or use Text to Columns. Excel also allows filtering dates with criteria like new/old and a certain range.

One user said he had trouble with dates in Excel until he found some helpful shortcuts online. He could do his tasks faster and more accurately than before.

Now that you know how to convert date formats, let’s move on to mastering other aspects of working with dates in Excel.

Working with Dates Made Easy

Dealing with dates in Excel can be tricky. “Time is money” – we all know it! If you’re an Excel enthusiast or just want to work more efficiently, here are some tips.

I’ll explain the quickest way to calculate days, months, or years between two dates. Plus, I’ll show some simple methods to add or subtract days from a date. Lastly, I’ll reveal some of Excel’s date functionalities that can help you work faster. Get ready to save time and become a shortcut expert!

Image credits: pixelatedworks.com by James Woodhock

Quickly calculate the number of days, months or years between two dates

Discover effective ways to add or subtract days from a date in Excel! Here’s how you can do it:

• Choose the cell where you want the answer to appear.
• To find out the number of days between two dates, type =DAYS(end_date,start_date).
• To get the number of months between two dates, type =DATEDIF(start_date,end_date,"m").
• To calculate how many years are there between two dates, type =DATEDIF(start_date,end_date,"y").
• If you want to add or subtract a specific number of days from a date, use the formula =date+number_of_days or =date-number_of_days.
• For instance, if you want to add 5 days to March 15th, 2022 (cell B2), use the formula =B2+5.

Discover effective ways to add or subtract days from a date

Adding or subtracting dates can be a challenge. But, there are tips to help make it easier. To add days, type a plus sign (+) and the number of days you want to add. Select both cells. To subtract days, type a minus sign (-) and the number of days you want to subtract. Select both cells.

The EDATE function is also useful. Type =EDATE (date, months) in a cell, and it will adjust the date based on the number of months specified.

CTRL + SEMICOLON (;) inserts today’s date into a cell. With CTRL + SHIFT + COLON (:), you can insert the current time.

These shortcuts are key for working with dates in Excel. Don’t get left behind by not utilizing them. Learn how to use Excel’s date functionalities for better productivity.

Harness Excel’s date functionalities to your advantage

We can use simple shortcuts and formulas to work with dates in Excel. Today’s date can be inserted into a cell with the TODAY function. To calculate the difference between two dates, the DATEDIF function should be used. Formatting shortcuts such as pressing Ctrl+Shift+# for the Date format or Ctrl+; for today’s date can be utilized.

The EOMONTH function can calculate the last day of a month. This can be done by using =EOMONTH(A1,0) where A1 contains a date in that month. Alternatively, the EDATE function can be used for this purpose. Text dates that Excel cannot recognize can be converted by using DATEVALUE and TEXT functions together.

When entering a two-digit year, a formula such as =YEAR(A1)+100*(YEAR(A1)<YEAR(TODAY())) can be used to determine the year. Additionally, localized settings can be changed in Language Preferences to show dates in dd/mm/yyyy instead of mm/dd/yyyy.

For ease-of-use across data sets, custom list entries such as ‘dd-mmm-yyyy’ should be used instead of ‘yyyy-mm-dd’ within General > Custom option under Formats menu. Now, let’s move forward and learn how to master date functions in Excel.

Mastering Date Functions in Excel

I’m an Excel devotee and always searching for ways to work smarter. If you are too, then understanding the date functions of Excel can be life-changing. In this section, we will deeply investigate these functions and how they can save time.

We will look at the DATE function first, which makes creating dates in spreadsheets simple. Then, the YEAR function, which quickly extracts the year from a date. Finally, the MONTH function that instantly pulls out the month from a date. Let’s supercharge our Excel skills!

Image credits: pixelatedworks.com by Yuval Washington

Explore the potential of the DATE function to create a date

The DATE Function is an invaluable Excel tool that saves time and energy. It lets you create dates by entering year, month, and day. This eliminates manual work, ensures accuracy, and helps sort data quickly. Moreover, it allows users to group and extract data according to time frames like days and years.

Microsoft Excel has been a popular spreadsheet program for years. It offers user-friendly features like Excel functions that make worksheets easier. This has made Excel the go-to choice in the workplace.

Tom’s experience with the DATE function proves it’s worth. He had to format student enrolment records for September 2020 into one date format. Luckily, he remembered using the function on his last school project and was able to get the job done.

Use the YEAR function to easily retrieve the year from a date

Do you need to get the year from a date? The YEAR function can do it for you! It requires only one argument, which can be any valid DATE value. You’ll get a four-digit integer representing the calendar year.

The YEAR formula also delimits very high and low date values, so they return years relative to their calendars’ limits. You can even combine the output with other functions like TEXT or CONCATENATE, for formatting dates.

Using this Excel shortcut is a great time-saver when dealing with date-filled data sets. It also takes care of negative and zero-year scenarios, so you won’t have to write complex scripts. I used it to fix issues in a payroll sheet for my team leads!

Once you know how to use the YEAR function, you can move on to the MONTH function. It rapidly retrieves the month from a date and will help you get the job done swiftly.

Use the MONTH function to rapidly retrieve the month from a date

This function can be very helpful when you have a lot of data with different dates. It saves time, since you don’t have to scroll through all dates. You can also pair it with other formulas like SUMIF or IF.

Surprisingly, many people still don’t know about it. Business Insider published an article in 2017, which said that one of the most common Excel mistakes is using formatting instead of functions with dates. Functions provide accuracy, speed and automation.

Advanced date formulas can help you be even more productive. You can mix different formulas or make custom ones, depending on your needs.

Understanding Advanced Date Formulas

Are you tired of spending hours sorting out Excel data, just to get stuck on the date formulas? Fear not! We’ve got your back. In this section, we’ll go over Advanced Date Formulas in Excel. You’ll learn some neat tricks to understand and do date formulas quickly.

First, we’ll show you how to use the IF function to check for past dates. Next up, we’ll explore the TODAY function that gets the current date automatically. Lastly, we’ll see how the NOW function can get you the current date and time without any delays.

Ready to learn some awesome Excel date hacks? Let’s get started!

Image credits: pixelatedworks.com by Adam Arnold

Learn how to use the IF function to check for past dates

To use the IF function to check for past dates quickly, select the cell you want to enter the formula. Type in:
=IF(A1<TODAY(),"Yes", "No")

Replace “A1” with the cell that has the date. “Yes” will show if the date is older than today, and “No” if not. Press enter for the output.

Using Excel’s date functions can be beneficial for businesses. It can help them organize their data, recognize patterns and trends.

The TODAY function can be used to get the current date. Just type in “Ctrl + ;” and the date appears in the cell.

Utilize the TODAY function to retrieve the current date with ease

Using the TODAY function is a great way to easily retrieve the current date. Just open up an Excel spreadsheet and select the cell where you want the date to appear. Then type in “=TODAY()” and press enter. The result will be today’s date in a format matching your computer’s regional settings.

You can change the format by clicking on the cell, then selecting “Format Cells” and choosing your desired format from the Date category. Copying this formula to other cells will always display today’s date relative to that particular cell.

The TODAY function has been available in every version of Excel since 1990 and is a key tool for users worldwide. Knowing how to use it efficiently is vital if you’re often dealing with dates.

Plus, there are up to 20 Excel date shortcuts that can save you time. An example is the NOW function, which retrieves the current date and time on-the-go.

Understand how the NOW function can retrieve the current date and time on the go

The NOW function in Excel is a great tool! It gives the current date and time with no manual entry. Here’s how it works:

• NOW function puts the current date and time in one cell.
• It updates itself, so no need to refresh manually.
• You can format it to show only the date or time.
• Be careful not to use it too much – it can slow down your workbook.

Use it to be more efficient – just type =NOW() in a cell. It will automatically update every second.

Imagine having a tool that automates mundane tasks in Excel. This simple solution would save hours every week and avoid mental frustration.

A personal story: I was an accountant at a logistics firm. We had a weekly report that took forever to update the “today’s date” column. Then, someone suggested the NOW function and it made our workflow faster!

If you often enter dates, use these date shortcuts to save time and improve productivity:

Excel Date Shortcuts You Need to Start Using

Tired of entering dates & times manually in Excel? Me too! I’ve found some awesome date shortcuts which changed the way I work. Let me walk you through the best Excel date shortcuts you must use ASAP.

• Quickly enter current date with Ctrl+;
• Quickly enter current time with Ctrl+Shift+;
• Quickly enter current date and time with Ctrl+Shift+:.

With these easy-to-remember shortcuts, your Excel work will be a breeze, with lots of time saved.

Save time by using Excel’s Ctrl+; shortcut to instantly enter the current date

Ctrl+; is a great Excel shortcut for entering the current date. It saves time and eliminates the need for manual calculations. Here’s how to do it:

1. Select the cell.
2. Press + hold Ctrl.
3. Press semicolon (;).
4. Release both keys.

This shortcut ensures all dates in the spreadsheet are accurate and consistent. You can combine it with other features like Autofill or conditional formatting to create dynamic sheets.

If you often work with dates, such as tracking projects or payments, then Ctrl+; can save you lots of time. For example, project managers can use this shortcut to assign tasks quickly, rather than manually typing out today’s date.

In conclusion, Ctrl+; is an easy way to speed up your workflow when dealing with dates in spreadsheets. Another handy trick is to use Ctrl+Shift+: to quickly enter the current time.

Quickly enter the current time using Excel’s Ctrl+Shift+: shortcut

Enter the current time in Excel with Ctrl+Shift+: easily! Select the cell you wish to enter it into. Then, press and hold Ctrl, Shift and colon at the same time. After releasing them, the current time will be in that cell.

This shortcut is a way to save time when working with lots of data, or tracking time-sensitive info. Log project start/end times, deadlines and more. It’s been around since 2007 and is a great tool for anyone who wants to work smarter.

A colleague of mine was struggling to meet deadlines because she was manually entering dates. With this shortcut, she reduced her workload and met her targets.

If you’re working with dates and want to save time, mastering this shortcut can help streamline your processes and make your working life more efficient.

Save time and energy by instantly entering the current date and time with Excel’s Ctrl+Shift+ shortcut

Save time and energy with Excel’s Ctrl+Shift+ shortcut! Instantly enter the current date and time. This is a useful feature that can make work more efficient and give you time for other tasks. Here are five points about how it works:

• Ctrl+Shift+; inserts the current date
• Ctrl+; inserts the current time
• Ctrl+Shift+ inserts both the date and time
• Works on most versions of Excel
• Customize the format to your preferences

Use this shortcut regularly to avoid typing dates and times or scrolling through menus. It saves time and improves accuracy, reducing the risk of errors.

I remember a project where I had to track hundreds of dates in an Excel spreadsheet. Without this shortcut, I spent hours manually entering each date. With just a few keystrokes, I could have saved time and avoided errors. Now I’m sure to use all the time-saving features that Excel has to offer. This date shortcut is invaluable!

FAQs about 20 Excel Date Shortcuts That Will Save You Time

What are the 20 Excel date shortcuts that will save you time?

The 20 Excel date shortcuts that will save you time are:

• Ctrl + ; (semicolon) to input the current date
• Ctrl + Shift + ; (semicolon) to input the current time
• Ctrl + Shift + #: to apply the default date format
• Ctrl + Shift + @: to apply the default time format
• Ctrl + Shift + 3: to apply the date format with day, month, and year
• Ctrl + Shift + 4: to apply the date format with hours, minutes, and seconds
• Ctrl + Shift + 5: to apply the date format with date and time
• Ctrl + Shift + 6: to apply the date format with scientific notation
• Ctrl + Shift + 7: to apply the date format with percentage
• Ctrl + Shift + 8: to apply the date format with fraction
• Ctrl + Shift + 9: to unhide the rows
• Ctrl + Shift + 0: to unhide the columns
• Ctrl + Shift + -: to delete the selected cells
• Ctrl + Shift + =: to insert the selected cells
• Ctrl + Shift + ~: to show or hide the formulas
• Ctrl + Shift + ^: to apply the exponential format
• Ctrl + Shift + $: to apply the currency format
• Ctrl + Shift + #: to apply the date format with month and year
• Ctrl + Shift + %: to apply the percentage format
• Ctrl + Shift + &: to apply the border to the selected cells