NOW Function in Apache OpenOffice Calc: Syntax, Examples and Compatibility
Use NOW in Apache OpenOffice Calc to return a live date-and-time value, useful for elapsed-time monitoring. Two original examples, expected results, cautions and official software documentation.
Verification status: Official documentation referenced; example outcomes independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where stated. Not executed in Apache OpenOffice Calc. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer: return a live date-and-time value, useful for elapsed-time monitoring in Apache OpenOffice Calc. The reproducible examples below use explicit values so the formula’s meaning is testable without a large workbook.
Evidence: The function name and syntax are documented in the linked vendor function reference. Expected outputs were independently reasoned or checked outside the application. These are not native Apache OpenOffice Calc test results. A guide being published here does not certify every software release or file-import scenario.
Syntax and arguments
=NOW()
NOW has no arguments. Format the output cell as date and time; the stored value includes a fractional day.
Best use case: Return a live date-and-time value, useful for elapsed-time monitoring.
Set up the example sheet
In a blank sheet, format B2 as Date and time, enter the formula, and keep B3 formatted as a number to inspect the elapsed-day calculation.
Enter the formula in an unused cell. For a formula returning several values, leave an unobstructed area where those values can expand. These examples use semicolons between formula arguments in the documented Calc-style syntax; adjust separators if your application or regional settings differ.
Worked example 1: NOW with known input
=NOW()
Expected output: the current date and time at calculation.
NOW includes the time of day and is volatile; an unchanged display does not prove the underlying value stayed constant.
Worked example 2: a second NOW case
=NOW()>DATE(2020;1;1)
Expected output: TRUE (for any date after 1 January 2020).
The current date/time serial exceeds the fixed 1 January 2020 threshold; this is a stable logical check without assuming a particular minute or second.
Compare both results before replacing literal values or short sample ranges with your own workbook data. For a spilling formula, compare every output cell, not only the top-left result.
Practical advice and troubleshooting
When this formula helps: For an immutable received-at or completed-at value, enter a static date-time rather than relying on a recalculating NOW formula.
Important edge case: NOW is not guaranteed to update every second. Its refresh depends on application recalculation policy and in Google Sheets on spreadsheet settings.
If the result differs, first verify the text-versus-number types of the input cells, the argument separators for your locale, and the range size. For dynamic arrays, inspect occupied cells in the output area. An error that looks like a missing function may reflect a software version rather than incorrect data.
Compatibility and version considerations
The Apache OpenOffice Calc official guide documents this name. OpenOffice often uses semicolon-separated function arguments, and older versions can require Ctrl+Shift+Enter array entry. Excel desktop evaluates NOW in its local environment. Google Sheets has its own spreadsheet timezone and recalculation settings. The Excel/Google comparison is background only, not a claim of identical behavior in Apache OpenOffice Calc.
Check your installed release for availability and dynamic-array support.
Function availability and parameter behavior must be judged for the specific application and release; a function documented in one spreadsheet does not automatically work in another.
Application-specific source note: The Apache OpenOffice Calc official guide documents this name. OpenOffice often uses semicolon-separated function arguments, and older versions can require Ctrl+Shift+Enter array entry.
Formula separator: These examples use semicolons for the function-argument separators. Locale settings can change entry conventions.
Related guides and official documentation
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Apache OpenOffice Calc documentation for NOW — function syntax and current vendor information.
Editorial verification: Function name checked in official vendor catalogue on 2026-10-12. The two example outputs are independently reasoned; no native application run, screenshot, or version-specific output is claimed. Review the editorial testing standards if you require stronger proof before importing a workbook.