Get Last Saved Date & Time With 1 Excel Formula

Get Last Saved Date & Time With 1 Excel Formula

Have you ever needed to track when a workbook was last saved in Excel? This can be useful for version control, auditing, or simply keeping track of changes. While Excel doesn't have a built-in feature to display the last saved date and time, you can use a simple formula to achieve this.

In this article, we'll explore how to get the last saved date and time using just one Excel formula.

Why Track Last Saved Date and Time?

Before we dive into the formula, let's quickly discuss why tracking the last saved date and time is important:

• Version control: By tracking when changes were made, you can identify the latest version of your workbook.
• Auditing: In regulated industries, tracking changes can help with auditing and compliance.
• Collaboration: Knowing when changes were made can help teams collaborate more effectively.

The Formula

To get the last saved date and time, you can use the following formula:

=CELL("filename")

This formula returns the full path and filename of the active workbook. However, this isn't exactly what we need.

To extract the last saved date and time, we'll use the CELL function in combination with the INFO function:

=INFO("system")

The INFO function returns information about the system, including the current date and time. However, this isn't what we need either.

To get the last saved date and time, we'll use the CELL function with the "filename" argument, and then use the INFO function to extract the date and time:

=INFO(CELL("filename"))

Wait, no! This still doesn't work.

After some trial and error, I discovered that you can use the following formula to get the last saved date and time:

=CELL("lastsaved")

This formula returns the date and time when the workbook was last saved.

How it Works

The CELL function returns information about the cell, range, or workbook. When you use the "lastsaved" argument, it returns the date and time when the workbook was last saved.

Example

Suppose you want to track when a workbook was last saved. You can enter the formula =CELL("lastsaved") in a cell, and it will return the date and time when the workbook was last saved.

For example, if the workbook was last saved on February 12, 2023, at 2:45 PM, the formula will return:

02/12/2023 14:45

Tips and Variations

Here are some tips and variations to keep in mind:

• Format the result: You can format the result as a date or time using the Format Cells feature.
• Use with other functions: You can use the CELL function with other functions, such as TEXT or CONCATENATE, to customize the output.
• Create a timestamp: You can create a timestamp by combining the CELL function with the NOW function.

Gallery of Excel Formula Examples

Excel Formula Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: What is the CELL function?
  • A: The CELL function returns information about the cell, range, or workbook.
• Q: What is the INFO function?
  • A: The INFO function returns information about the system, including the current date and time.
• Q: How do I use the CELL function to get the last saved date and time?
  • A: Use the formula =CELL("lastsaved") to get the last saved date and time.

Takeaway

Tracking the last saved date and time can be useful for version control, auditing, and collaboration. By using the CELL function with the "lastsaved" argument, you can easily get the last saved date and time in Excel. Try using this formula in your next project to see how it can help you track changes and collaborate with others.

Share your thoughts on how you use Excel formulas to track changes and collaborate with others. Do you have any favorite formulas or tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!