realtime time in Excel

[petesamprs]

Anyone know how to display a ticking timer in excel? The now() function gives you the current date/time, and then updates only when the sheet is recalculated (F9). Does anyone know how to set up a cell with the date/time that runs like a clock - ie, continuously moving?

thanks.

 

[CycloWizard]

I don't think you can have dynamically updating cells in Excel, but I may be wrong. Why would you want to do this? If you can give me a little more background, I might be able to tell you a way to do whatever it is you're trying to do.

 

[petesamprs]

client is asking for it. plus i'm curious now.

 

[CycloWizard]

Sorry chief, doesn't look like you can do it without paying for a plug-in. From Excel help:

Note The NOW() and TODAY() functions change only when the worksheet is calculated or when a macro that contains the function is run. They are not updated continuously. The date and time used are taken from the computer's system clock.

So basically it only pulls the time from the clock when you recalculate. I'm sure you could do it with some VB code, but I really don't know how VB interacts with Excel. I know both independently pretty well, but have no idea how to combine them. Sorry.

 

[PowerEngineer]

If this is a serious reuqest on the part of the client, then you might be better off looking at some real-time add-ins prvided by third parties. But if you want to try something in VB, look at the ONTIME method. You should be able to set up a macro that recalculates the spreadsheet (or just writes the current time back out to a cell) and then reschedules itself to run again a predetermined time later (until the timer expires?).