Products

NOW function

PRO BASIC

The NOW function in Jspreadsheet Formulas Pro is a useful tool that provides the current date and time as a specific type of data known as a date/time value. Whenever you use this function, it automatically updates the information to the most recent date and time. This makes it highly beneficial in maintaining real-time data in your sheets. Therefore, whenever you need to track the current date and time in your Jspreadsheet, simply use the NOW function.

Documentation

Returns the current date and time as a date/time value.

Category

Date and time

Syntax

NOW()

Parameter Description

Behavior

The NOW function is a date/time function that returns the current date and time according to the computer's system clock. Here's how it handles different scenarios:

  • Empty cells: The NOW function does not require any input or arguments, so empty cells do not affect its operation.
  • Text: Since the NOW function does not require any input, it doesn't interact with text in any way.
  • Booleans: The NOW function doesn't interact with boolean values, as it doesn't require any input.
  • Errors: The NOW function generally won't produce errors unless there's an issue with the system clock.

Common Errors

Error Name Description
#VALUE! This error occurs if the NOW function has been supplied with arguments, as it doesn't require any.

Best practices

  • The NOW function updates automatically whenever the spreadsheet recalculates. If you want to keep a static timestamp, you may want to use a different method, such as entering the date and time manually.
  • Be aware that the NOW function is dependent on your computer's system clock and will reflect any changes made to it.
  • If you're sharing a spreadsheet across different time zones, remember that the NOW function will display the date and time of the system where the spreadsheet is opened. This can lead to confusion if not properly accounted for.

Usage

A few examples using the NOW function.

NOW() returns the current date and time, for example: 3/15/2023 12:30:45 PM  

Interactive Spreadsheet Demo

<html>
<script src="https://jspreadsheet.com/v11/jspreadsheet.js"></script>
<script src="https://jsuites.net/v5/jsuites.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://jsuites.net/v5/jsuites.css" type="text/css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://jspreadsheet.com/v11/jspreadsheet.css" type="text/css" />

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Material+Icons" />
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@jspreadsheet/formula-pro/dist/index.min.js"></script>

<div id="spreadsheet"></div>

<script>
// Set your JSS license key (The following key only works for one day)
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

// Create a new spreadsheet
jspreadsheet(document.getElementById('spreadsheet'), {
  worksheets: [{
    data: [
    [
        "Task",
        "Completion Time",
        "Time Logged"
    ],
    [
        "Project Setup",
        "9:30 AM",
        "=NOW()"
    ],
    [
        "Code Review",
        "2:15 PM",
        "=NOW()"
    ],
    [
        "Testing Phase",
        "",
        "=NOW()"
    ]
]
  }]
});
</script>
</html>
import React, { useRef } from "react";
import { Spreadsheet, Worksheet, jspreadsheet } from "@jspreadsheet/react";
import formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";
import "jsuites/dist/jsuites.css";
import "jspreadsheet/dist/jspreadsheet.css";

// Set license
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

export default function App() {
    // Spreadsheet array of worksheets
    const spreadsheet = useRef();

    // Worksheet data
    const data = [
    [
        "Task",
        "Completion Time",
        "Time Logged"
    ],
    [
        "Project Setup",
        "9:30 AM",
        "=NOW()"
    ],
    [
        "Code Review",
        "2:15 PM",
        "=NOW()"
    ],
    [
        "Testing Phase",
        "",
        "=NOW()"
    ]
];

    // Render component
    return (
        <Spreadsheet ref={spreadsheet}>
            <Worksheet data={data} />
        </Spreadsheet>
    );
}
<template>
    <Spreadsheet ref="spreadsheet">
        <Worksheet :data="data" />
    </Spreadsheet>
</template>

<script>
import { Spreadsheet, Worksheet, jspreadsheet } from "@jspreadsheet/vue";
import "jsuites/dist/jsuites.css";
import "jspreadsheet/dist/jspreadsheet.css";
import formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";

// Set license
jspreadsheet.setLicense('ZTA2YzQ3OWQzMzM2OTRiNTUwYzBkNDBiMzgxYjE5MGM4MzZlY2U0NzE3OThkZGJjZTZhYTZmMmM3MTc5ZDI2ZjU1YTZiZjgxNDM2NjljNzFiNjNiM2QzYmUxYWFjYWMxZDgyOTVkYTkyNjBiNDhjY2ZkNzhhOGFjYzZjMjJiYjgsZXlKamJHbGxiblJKWkNJNklpSXNJbTVoYldVaU9pSktjM0J5WldGa2MyaGxaWFFpTENKa1lYUmxJam94TnpVM01ETXdOakV6TENKa2IyMWhhVzRpT2xzaWFuTndjbVZoWkhOb1pXVjBMbU52YlNJc0ltTnZaR1Z6WVc1a1ltOTRMbWx2SWl3aWFuTm9aV3hzTG01bGRDSXNJbU56WWk1aGNIQWlMQ0p6ZEdGamEySnNhWFI2TG1sdklpd2lkMlZpWTI5dWRHRnBibVZ5TG1sdklpd2lkMlZpSWl3aWJHOWpZV3hvYjNOMElsMHNJbkJzWVc0aU9pSXpOQ0lzSW5OamIzQmxJanBiSW5ZM0lpd2lkamdpTENKMk9TSXNJbll4TUNJc0luWXhNU0lzSW1Ob1lYSjBjeUlzSW1admNtMXpJaXdpWm05eWJYVnNZU0lzSW5CaGNuTmxjaUlzSW5KbGJtUmxjaUlzSW1OdmJXMWxiblJ6SWl3aWFXMXdiM0owWlhJaUxDSmlZWElpTENKMllXeHBaR0YwYVc5dWN5SXNJbk5sWVhKamFDSXNJbkJ5YVc1MElpd2ljMmhsWlhSeklpd2lZMnhwWlc1MElpd2ljMlZ5ZG1WeUlpd2ljMmhoY0dWeklpd2labTl5YldGMElsMHNJbVJsYlc4aU9uUnlkV1Y5');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

export default {
    components: {
        Spreadsheet,
        Worksheet,
    },
    data() {
        // Worksheet data
        const data = [
    [
        "Task",
        "Completion Time",
        "Time Logged"
    ],
    [
        "Project Setup",
        "9:30 AM",
        "=NOW()"
    ],
    [
        "Code Review",
        "2:15 PM",
        "=NOW()"
    ],
    [
        "Testing Phase",
        "",
        "=NOW()"
    ]
]

        return {
            data
        };
    }
}
</script>
import { Component, ViewChild, ElementRef } from "@angular/core";
import jspreadsheet from "jspreadsheet";
import * as formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";

// Set your JSS license key (The following key only works for one day)
jspreadsheet.setLicense('ZTA2YzQ3OWQzMzM2OTRiNTUwYzBkNDBiMzgxYjE5MGM4MzZlY2U0NzE3OThkZGJjZTZhYTZmMmM3MTc5ZDI2ZjU1YTZiZjgxNDM2NjljNzFiNjNiM2QzYmUxYWFjYWMxZDgyOTVkYTkyNjBiNDhjY2ZkNzhhOGFjYzZjMjJiYjgsZXlKamJHbGxiblJKWkNJNklpSXNJbTVoYldVaU9pSktjM0J5WldGa2MyaGxaWFFpTENKa1lYUmxJam94TnpVM01ETXdOakV6TENKa2IyMWhhVzRpT2xzaWFuTndjbVZoWkhOb1pXVjBMbU52YlNJc0ltTnZaR1Z6WVc1a1ltOTRMbWx2SWl3aWFuTm9aV3hzTG01bGRDSXNJbU56WWk1aGNIQWlMQ0p6ZEdGamEySnNhWFI2TG1sdklpd2lkMlZpWTI5dWRHRnBibVZ5TG1sdklpd2lkMlZpSWl3aWJHOWpZV3hvYjNOMElsMHNJbkJzWVc0aU9pSXpOQ0lzSW5OamIzQmxJanBiSW5ZM0lpd2lkamdpTENKMk9TSXNJbll4TUNJc0luWXhNU0lzSW1Ob1lYSjBjeUlzSW1admNtMXpJaXdpWm05eWJYVnNZU0lzSW5CaGNuTmxjaUlzSW5KbGJtUmxjaUlzSW1OdmJXMWxiblJ6SWl3aWFXMXdiM0owWlhJaUxDSmlZWElpTENKMllXeHBaR0YwYVc5dWN5SXNJbk5sWVhKamFDSXNJbkJ5YVc1MElpd2ljMmhsWlhSeklpd2lZMnhwWlc1MElpd2ljMlZ5ZG1WeUlpd2ljMmhoY0dWeklpd2labTl5YldGMElsMHNJbVJsYlc4aU9uUnlkV1Y5');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

@Component({
    standalone: true,
    selector: "app-root",
    template: `<div #spreadsheet></div>`
})
export class AppComponent {
    @ViewChild("spreadsheet") spreadsheet: ElementRef;
    // Worksheets
    worksheets: jspreadsheet.worksheetInstance[];

    // Create a new data grid
    ngAfterViewInit() {
        // Create spreadsheet
        this.worksheets = jspreadsheet(this.spreadsheet.nativeElement, {
            worksheets: [{
                data: [
    [
        "Task",
        "Completion Time",
        "Time Logged"
    ],
    [
        "Project Setup",
        "9:30 AM",
        "=NOW()"
    ],
    [
        "Code Review",
        "2:15 PM",
        "=NOW()"
    ],
    [
        "Testing Phase",
        "",
        "=NOW()"
    ]
]
            }]
        });
    }
}