Typing the Date
Often, when filling out cells in excel, the current date is needed. You could simply type the current date, but there are shortcut keys. . .
Using Control and Semicolon for the Current Date
. . . a couple of options for shortcut keys. The most basic is simply hit Control and the semicolon. This adds the current date as if you had typed it into your cell. Just push the shortcut keys and then push enter to complete your entry.
Using Control Shift and Enter for the Current Time
It’s also possible that you’d want the current time, and not include the date. The shortcut for this is control, shift and the semicolon. Again, it’s as if you typed it. So, you have to push enter to complete your entry. But wait! Be aware that the shortcut key for just time does not include any actual date information. It only includes the time.
Adding Date and Time
For even more granularity in your entry, you can add both the date and time into your cell. To do this, you have to act as if you’re typing both of the entries into your cell, one after the other. You would, therefore, press control and the semicolon, then press space, then press control, shift and the semicolon. You’ve essentially entered a long string including the date and time, so, once again, enter is required to complete your entry.
Formatting Date and Time
Right click on the cell and select “Format Cells.” In the number tab of the format cells dialogue box, select “Custom.” You can select in the custom number formatting something like “h:mm AM/PM” and leave the entry with only a time. You could also select something like “mm/dd/yy” and excel would format your cell in the traditional American formatting, excluding the time information.
Closing
Hopefully this tutorial is helpful to anyone that watches it. It was our goal to make this video clear, concise and helpful but, as a quick tip, it might be lacking in detail. If you have any questions or would like to see this topic covered more deeply, please let us know in the comments.