How to use dates and times in Excel

The TODAY() Function and the NOW() Function The TODAY function returns the serial number of today's date based on your system clock and does not include the time. The NOW function returns the serial number of today's date and includes the time.

For example, when you use the NOW function to compare a date with the current date, as in the formula

   =IF(NOW()=DATEVALUE("10/1/92"),TRUE,FALSE)

   =IF(TODAY()=DATEVALUE("10/1/92"),TRUE,FALSE)

How to Work with Date Formulas
How to Find the Number of Days Between Today and a Future Date

   ="mm/dd/yy"-NOW()
1- Create a new workbook.
2- In the New Workbook pane, click Blank workbook.
3- Type the following data in the workbook:
   A1:    03/25/94     A2:    05/01/98


4- Type the following formula in cell D1: 
=YEAR(A2)-YEAR(A1)-IF(OR(MONTH(A2) DAY(A2) <=MONTH(A1),DAY(A2) >=DAY(A1)),12,IF(AND(MONTH(A2)>MONTH(A1),DAY(A2) "&A2-DATE(YEAR(A2),MONTH(A2)-IF(DAY(A2)

Note If you copy and paste this formula, make sure that there are no line breaks. If there are line breaks, the formula will not work. If you type the formula correctly, cell D1 displays:

4 years, 1 months, 6 days