google sheets now - Free Excel Tutorial

December 5, 2021December 5, 2021

Google Sheets FORMULATEXT Function

This post will guide you how to use Google Sheets FORMULATEXT function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Google Sheets FORMULATEXT function returns a formula as string. You can get a formula as a text string from a given cell reference.

The FORMULATEXT function can be used to extract the formula as text from a cell in google sheets. The purpose of this function is to get the formula in a cell and the returned value is the formula as text.

The FORMULATEXT function is a build-in function in Google Sheets and it is categorized as a Lookup function.

Syntax

The syntax of the FORMULATEXT function is as below:

=FORMULATEXT (cell)

Where the FORMULATEXT function arguments are:

cell -This is a required argument. The reference to cell or a cell range.

Note:

FORMULATEXT function only take one arugument, it can be a cell reference.
If Cell doesn’t contain a formula, the FORMULATEXT function returns #N/A error.
FORMULATEXT function returns what is displayed in the formula bar when selecting a cell.
If a cell range is passed into FORMULATEXT function, only the top left most cell is extracted.

Google Sheets FORMULATEXT Function Examples

The below examples will show you how to use google sheets FORMULATEXT Function to extract a formula as a string.

#1 if the cell A1 contain one formula =NOW(), and you wish to extract this formula in cell A1 as a text string, just using the FORMULATEXT function:

=FORMULATEXT(A1)

#2 the cell A3 contain one string “google”, and using the FORMULATEXT function to extract a formula in Cell C3, it will returns #N/A error, type:

=FORMULATEXT(C1)

#3 If the cell passed into FORMULATEXT references the cell that contains the FORMULATEXT formula, it can handle this kind of circular reference, type:

=FORMULATEXT(B3)

November 16, 2021

Google Sheets TODAY Function

This post will guide you how to use Google Sheets TODAY function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Google Sheets TODAY function get the current date as a date value. And it will be updated each time when your worksheet is changed or opened. This function does not need to add any arguments.

You can use the TODAY function to get the current date displayed on your worksheet. And it also can be used for calculating intervals. For example, if you want to know that person’s age (he was born in 1984), you can use the following formula:

=YEAR(TODAY())-1984

This formula will use the TODAY function as an argument for the YEAR function to get the current year, and then subtracts 1984, getting his age.

The TODAY function is a build-in function in Google Sheets and it is categorized as a Date function.

Syntax

The syntax of the TODAY function is as below:

=TODAY()

There are no any arguments for the TODAY function, but you still need to use empty parentheses ().

Note:

TODAY function will be updated on every edit made to the spreadsheet and it will impact spreadsheet performance.
TODAY function will create a date without the current time, and if you wish to get the current date and time, and you can use the NOW function.
TODAY function will always get the current date and the last date in the spreadsheet was recalculated, rather than remaining at the date when it was first entered.

Google Sheets TODAY Function Examples

The below examples will show you how to use google sheets TODAY Function to return the current system date.

1# using the TODAY function to get the current date, enter the following formula in Cell B1.

=TODAY()

2# Get the current date and then subtracts 10 days, using the following formula:

=TODAY() -10

3# Get the number of days between the current date and 03/14/2022, type the following formula:

=DATEVALUE("03/14/2019")-TODAY()

4# Get the current day of the month, using the following formula:

=DAY(TODAY())

5# Get the current month of the year, type the following formula in Cell B1:

=MONTH(TODAY())

November 14, 2021

Google Sheets NOW Function

This post will guide you how to use Google Sheets NOW function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Google Sheets NOW function returns the serial number of the current date and time. And it will be updated each time when your worksheet is changed or opened. This function does not need to add any arguments.

The NOW function can be used to get the current date and time in google sheets. The purpose of this function is to get the current date and time and its returned values is a number that representing the date and time in google sheets.

The NOW function is a build-in function in Google Sheets and it is categorized as a Date function.

Syntax

The syntax of the NOW function is as below:

=NOW ()

Note:

A serial date is how the google sheets stores dates and it represents the number of days since 1900-01-01, so the January 1, 1900 date is serial number 1 by default.
Numbers to the right of the decimal point in the serial number represent the time; numbers to the left represent the date. For example, the serial number 0.5 represents the time 12:00 noon. And the serial number 0.25 represents the time 6:00 AM.
If the NOW function does not update cell values when you expect it to, you might need to change settings that control when the sheet recalculates.
Now function will be updated on every edit made to the spreadsheet and it will impact spreadsheet performance.
NOW function will provide the current date and time. If you wish to create a date without the current time, using TODAY function.
NOW function will always get the current date and time and the last time in the spreadsheet was recalculated, rather than remaining at the date and time when it was first entered.
The date or time component of NOW function can be hidden by changing the number formatting.

Google Sheets NOW Function Examples

The below examples will show you how to use google sheets NOW Function to return the current date and time.

1# get the current date and time, enter the following formula in Cell B1.

=NOW()

2# get the date and time 12 hours ago, you can use the following formula:

=NOW()-0.5

3# get the date and time 5 days in the future, just use the following formula:

=NOW() + 5