Is there any way to create a timestamp in a Google Spreadsheet?

Question

I use PSPad as a text editor, which allows you to press Alt + D to insert a timestamp, e.g.:

2010-07-17 23:45:44

Is there a way to do this in a Google Spreadsheet?

Answer 1

I use AutoHotKey to perform this function.

AutoHotKey is a Windows scripting application and language.

The code I use is below, it would be easily modifiable to insert the time and change the slashes to hyphens if that is what you prefer.

+!d:: ;Shift-Alt-D: Insert current date
SendInput %A_DD%/%A_MM%/%A_YYYY%
return

Answer 2

Google Docs supports the following keyboard shortcuts:

• Ctrl + Shift + : is the keystroke to insert time.

• Ctrl + ; is the keystroke to insert date.

See Keyboard accelerators, mnemonics, and shortcuts for more details.

Answer 3

1. In a nearby cell, or within a frozen pane, input =today() into a cell to get the current date.
2. Copy the cell, and then use (Paste special → Paste values only) from the edit menu, to get a static date and time, at the time that you pasted the value in the cell that you wanted the date stamp.

Answer 4

You can put in a bookmarklet with this location:

javascript:var thetime=new Date();var txtNode=document.createTextNode((thetime.getMonth()+1)+'/'+thetime.getDate()+'/'+thetime.getFullYear()+' '+thetime.getHours()+':'+thetime.getMinutes()+':'+thetime.getSeconds()); var myInputNode=document.getElementsByClassName('cell-input')[1]; if (myInputNode.hasChildNodes()) {  myInputNode.replaceChild(txtNode, myInputNode.childNodes[0]); } else { myInputNode.appendChild(txtNode); }; void(0);

then edit the cell and click the bookmarklet.

Answer 5

I created a little script that converts the string literal "_now" to current datetime -

function onEdit(e) {
  if (e.range.getValue() == "_now") {
    e.range.setValue(new Date());
  }
}

I find it pretty handy to type _now and have it convert to current datetime value.

See https://developers.google.com/apps-script/quickstart/macros and https://developers.google.com/apps-script/understanding_events for more info on how to add this to your Google Spreadsheet

Answer 6

Google Docs doesn't support it, but you can try another workaround without external apps:

1. Insert a comment (Ctrl + M)
2. Copy the TimeStamp from there (Ctrl + X or Ctrl + X)
3. Delete the comment (Right click > Delete)
4. Paste the TimeStamp (Ctrl + V)

(If you are on a MacOS, use Cmd instead of Ctrl for Copy/Cut/Paste, but Ctrl + M for inserting the comment, because Cmd + M is minimizing the window.)

Answer 7

There is an easy way to do it using the script gallery. There is a good video which shows you how to do it. Have a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7B0bzVvcL8

Answer 8

The formula for spreadsheets is =now()