TODAY Function in Apache OpenOffice Calc: Syntax, Examples and Compatibility
Use TODAY in Apache OpenOffice Calc to insert the current calendar date without typing it again. 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: insert the current calendar date without typing it again 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
=TODAY()
This function takes no arguments. Its value changes with the current date and the workbook recalculation settings.
Best use case: Insert the current calendar date without typing it again.
Set up the example sheet
Create a blank sheet, place a label Due date in A1, and leave A2 free for the formula. Set A2 to a Date format so the date is visible rather than a serial number.
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: TODAY with known input
=TODAY()
Expected output: the current date in your spreadsheet’s configured timezone.
Unlike a typed date, TODAY updates when the sheet recalculates after the date changes.
Worked example 2: a second TODAY case
=TODAY()+7
Expected output: the calendar date seven days after the current date.
Dates are stored as serial day numbers, so adding seven advances the day count by seven.
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: Use a typed value or paste special → values for a permanent timestamp. TODAY is not an audit log of when a row was created.
Important edge case: Do not write a permanently fixed date as the expected output: the answer changes every day. Spreadsheet timezone and recalculation timing can matter around midnight.
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. Both Excel and Google Sheets implement TODAY, but their time-zone settings, recalculation controls and shared-file behavior can differ. 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 TODAY — 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.