How to automatically update date in Numbers based on cell content change?

This is an Apple Numbers question, and it should be a simple one, but i'm having trouble. How do you populate one cell with the current days date anytime the content of another cell changes? Im working on an inventory workbook and would like one cell in a row to populate with the date anytime the price data in another cell is changed.

Any help would be appreciated.

thanks



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.2

Posted on Feb 14, 2025 3:59 PM

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Posted on Feb 15, 2025 3:43 PM

You're right. it is a simple one :)


=NOW()


NOW() returns the current date/time. It updates every time the file is opened, or any cell values are changed.


At least, it is a simple one if you want a global tracker. There's no facility to track edits on a specific cell (i.e. changing any cell will update NOW(), not just specific cells you want to 'watch').

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 15, 2025 3:43 PM in response to mjhaye

You're right. it is a simple one :)


=NOW()


NOW() returns the current date/time. It updates every time the file is opened, or any cell values are changed.


At least, it is a simple one if you want a global tracker. There's no facility to track edits on a specific cell (i.e. changing any cell will update NOW(), not just specific cells you want to 'watch').

Feb 15, 2025 9:09 PM in response to mjhaye

Hi mjhaye,


Menu > Insert > Date & Time is not automatic. It requires an action by a human. It becomes a time stamp (time stamp is an often asked question in this forum).

Click twice in a cell and Menu > Insert > Date & Time.



Double click to format the Date & Time.



Unlike the NOW function, it does not change other cells (Table 1 B2 has not updated).

Thank goodness that we humans are still needed in spreadsheets!


Regards,

Ian.





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How to automatically update date in Numbers based on cell content change?

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