Auto Date in OpenOffice worksheet

Discuss the word processor
Post Reply
lovepatt
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 5:05 pm

Auto Date in OpenOffice worksheet

Post by lovepatt »

I am using word writer 4.5.1 and windows 10. I am looking for an auto date, like what I used in msoft word. There, in the header or footer you could use &D and the doc would update for the days date when you opened the doc. I am trying to make use of this in a cell. Anyone?
Open Office 4.1.5 Windows 10 Looking for auto date function, which I used to use in header and footer in Msoft word. Want date in worksheet cell to automatically update to date doc is opened. Help?
User avatar
RoryOF
Moderator
Posts: 34611
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:30 pm
Location: Ireland

Re: Auto Date in open office worksheet

Post by RoryOF »

/Insert /Fields : Date.
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15 on Xubuntu 22.04.4 LTS
lovepatt
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 5:05 pm

Re: Auto Date in open office worksheet

Post by lovepatt »

Sorry, no options for insert fields date in pull down menus or icons. The closest I can come is putting a header in, but that doesn't show up on worksheet, only in print preview. Any other ideas?
Open Office 4.1.5 Windows 10 Looking for auto date function, which I used to use in header and footer in Msoft word. Want date in worksheet cell to automatically update to date doc is opened. Help?
User avatar
RoryOF
Moderator
Posts: 34611
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:30 pm
Location: Ireland

Re: Auto Date in open office worksheet

Post by RoryOF »

If you are working in Writer, as you said, /Insert /Fields is a menu item.
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15 on Xubuntu 22.04.4 LTS
User avatar
Villeroy
Volunteer
Posts: 31279
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:35 am
Location: Germany

Re: Auto Date in open office worksheet

Post by Villeroy »

Install https://libreoffice.org/ instead of OpenOffice or add a macro to OpenOffice. LibreOffice has a built-in shortcut command for this.

A Python macro of mine inserts the current timestamp (date+time) to the active cell: download/file.php?id=29462
Open the downloaded zip file. It contains only one file TimeStamp2Calc.py
Open the file explorer and enter %APPDATA% as folder address. From there navigate to folder OpenOffice\4\user\Scripts, add a folder named "python" and put the file TimeStamp2Calc.py into that directory.
Open any Calc document.
Tools>Customize... tab "Keyboard"
Choose a free shortcut.
In the "Category" box navigate to OpenOffice_Macros>My_Macros>TimeStamp2Calc and choose NowToActiveCell.
Click the Modify button and then OK.
Please, edit this topic's initial post and add "[Solved]" to the subject line if your problem has been solved.
Ubuntu 18.04 with LibreOffice 6.0, latest OpenOffice and LibreOffice
User avatar
robleyd
Moderator
Posts: 5080
Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:47 am
Location: Murbko, Australia

Re: Auto Date in open office worksheet

Post by robleyd »

A picture may be worth a thousand words.
Insert | Fields in Apache OpenOffice 4.1.5 Writer
Insert | Fields in Apache OpenOffice 4.1.5 Writer
Note 1: there is no 4.5.1 version in Apache OpenOffice - you may mean LibreOffice or you may have mistyped the version number

Note 2: You should not put your question in your signature.

How to update your signature
Cheers
David
OS - Slackware 15 64 bit
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15
LibreOffice 24.2.2.2; SlackBuild for 24.2.2 by Eric Hameleers
User avatar
keme
Volunteer
Posts: 3703
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:27 am
Location: Egersund, Norway

Re: Auto Date in OpenOffice worksheet

Post by keme »

"Worksheet" is more frequently associated with spreadsheets than with text documents. Also "header showing only in print preview" is a strong indication that said "Word Writer Worksheet" is a spreadsheet in disguise.

If you need the current date in a spreadsheet cell (also if you embed a spreadsheet in a Writer document rather than inserting a plain table), the function =TODAY() will do. It will not show the last date the sheet was opened, but rather current date.

If you want the date in a header or footer, find the menu item Edit - Headers and footers... Place the insertion point in the pane corresponding to the desired date placement. Then click the date icon below the content panes. (The icon looks like a tearoff day calendar, a square with the number 1 in it).This one also displays current date (at print time), not the date when the file was opened.

If you must have the date when the file was opened (i.e. date not updating at midnight), it may be possible but it is not a trivial task. Please post back if such a date is required.
Post Reply