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Insert today's date

Ctrl;Entry & fill

Stamp a static date that won't change tomorrow.

Difficulty

Beginner
Practice file

1What it does

Ctrl + ; types today's date as a fixed value (Ctrl + Shift + ; stamps the current time). Unlike =TODAY(), it doesn't update when the file reopens — so it records when something actually happened.

2The shortcut

Ctrl;
  1. 1Click the cell to stamp.
  2. 2Press Ctrl + ; for the date (or Ctrl + Shift + ; for the time).
  3. 3Press Enter — the value is static, not a formula.

3Before → after

Press the shortcut to play it on a sample sheet.

or press the keys for real

Before — an empty cell

A — FieldB — Value
1Last reconciled
fx 

4When you use it

  • Date a 'last reconciled' or 'as of' cell.
  • Timestamp a manual entry or adjustment.
  • Record a fixed date that TODAY() would otherwise overwrite.

5Related functions

  • EOMONTH — see its own page, with a live demo.

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