I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How can I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?

If you are looking to enter the time (static) try the below key combination

Ctrl+Shift+semicolon

If you are looking to have a time that will update by itself then use the
formula
=NOW()
and format that to any time format you prefer.

--
If this post helps click Yes
---------------
Jacob Skaria


"Cletus" wrote:

I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How can I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?

I don't need the current time entered. I have varying times and it would be
so much more convenient if we didn't have to manually enter the colon. I
tried formatting the cell but that doesn't work

=NOW()
formatted to time should change automatically

If this post helps click Yes
---------------
Jacob Skaria


"Cletus" wrote:

I don't need the current time entered. I have varying times and it would be
so much more convenient if we didn't have to manually enter the colon. I
tried formatting the cell but that doesn't work

If you are talking about entering the current time (of day), then Jacob has
given you your answer. If, on the other hand, you mean a time other than the
current time (such as would be taken from a log sheet of some kind), then
you will need a macro to do what you want. Are you entering 24-hour time
values (1600 for 4:00pm) or would you enter 4:00pm as 400pm (or perhaps 400
pm with a space between them)? Are you entering the seconds as well (and, if
so, will they always be available for each entry or not)?

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Cletus" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How can I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?

Another trick...

**Temporarily** set up an AutoCorrect option to replace a decimal point with
the colon. Then enter the time in 24 hr format using the decimal point
instead of the colon. Most people probably use the numeric keypad for
entering numbers. It's a lot more ergonomic to hit the decimal point key
than to have to reach over to the qwerty keys and do <shift colon.

Just remember to reset the AutoCorrect option when you're done. Then
reformat the times as desired.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Rick Rothstein" wrote in message
...
If you are talking about entering the current time (of day), then Jacob
has given you your answer. If, on the other hand, you mean a time other
than the current time (such as would be taken from a log sheet of some
kind), then you will need a macro to do what you want. Are you entering
24-hour time values (1600 for 4:00pm) or would you enter 4:00pm as 400pm
(or perhaps 400 pm with a space between them)? Are you entering the
seconds as well (and, if so, will they always be available for each entry
or not)?

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Cletus" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How can I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?

Expanding on that old trick:

When the girls in the office where finished entering the time card data on
Monday morning for the previous week, they always forgot to change back
until they noticed the mistakes they were making (usually wasting a half
hour's work).

So now we use the AutoCorrect to replace *2* decimals with a colon.
12..15 is just about as easy to use as 12.15,
AND, some of them never have to change back, leaving it in force
indefinitely.
--
Regards,

RD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"T. Valko" wrote in message
...
Another trick...

**Temporarily** set up an AutoCorrect option to replace a decimal point
with
the colon. Then enter the time in 24 hr format using the decimal point
instead of the colon. Most people probably use the numeric keypad for
entering numbers. It's a lot more ergonomic to hit the decimal point key
than to have to reach over to the qwerty keys and do <shift colon.

Just remember to reset the AutoCorrect option when you're done. Then
reformat the times as desired.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Rick Rothstein" wrote in message
...
If you are talking about entering the current time (of day), then Jacob
has given you your answer. If, on the other hand, you mean a time other
than the current time (such as would be taken from a log sheet of some
kind), then you will need a macro to do what you want. Are you entering
24-hour time values (1600 for 4:00pm) or would you enter 4:00pm as 400pm
(or perhaps 400 pm with a space between them)? Are you entering the
seconds as well (and, if so, will they always be available for each
entry
or not)?

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Cletus" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How can
I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?

While I've not had to do anything like this myself, it would seem you can
make the "single dot to colon" replacement both position sensitive and
automatic without anyone having to remember anything. For example, the
following installed in the Workbook module should do the "single dot to
colon" replacement **only** for Column E on the worksheet named "Sheet3" and
treat the dot normally everywhere else...

Private Sub Workbook_SheetSelectionChange(ByVal Sh As Object, _
ByVal Target As Range)
With Application.AutoCorrect
On Error Resume Next
If Sh.Name = "Sheet3" Then
If Target.Column = 5 Then
.AddReplacement ".", ":"
Else
.DeleteReplacement "."
End If
Else
.DeleteReplacement "."
End If
End With
End Sub

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Ragdyer" wrote in message
...
Expanding on that old trick:

When the girls in the office where finished entering the time card data on
Monday morning for the previous week, they always forgot to change back
until they noticed the mistakes they were making (usually wasting a half
hour's work).

So now we use the AutoCorrect to replace *2* decimals with a colon.
12..15 is just about as easy to use as 12.15,
AND, some of them never have to change back, leaving it in force
indefinitely.
--
Regards,

RD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"T. Valko" wrote in message
...
Another trick...

**Temporarily** set up an AutoCorrect option to replace a decimal point
with
the colon. Then enter the time in 24 hr format using the decimal point
instead of the colon. Most people probably use the numeric keypad for
entering numbers. It's a lot more ergonomic to hit the decimal point key
than to have to reach over to the qwerty keys and do <shift colon.

Just remember to reset the AutoCorrect option when you're done. Then
reformat the times as desired.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Rick Rothstein" wrote in message
...
If you are talking about entering the current time (of day), then Jacob
has given you your answer. If, on the other hand, you mean a time other
than the current time (such as would be taken from a log sheet of some
kind), then you will need a macro to do what you want. Are you entering
24-hour time values (1600 for 4:00pm) or would you enter 4:00pm as
400pm
(or perhaps 400 pm with a space between them)? Are you entering the
seconds as well (and, if so, will they always be available for each
entry
or not)?

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Cletus" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How can
I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?

Hi Rick

That's a very neat method.
I wondered why you had chosen to put it in a workbook module, rather than
just place it in the relevant worksheet

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
With Application.AutoCorrect
On Error Resume Next
If Target.Column = 5 Then
.AddReplacement ".", ":"
Else
.DeleteReplacement "."
End If
End With
End Sub

--
Regards
Roger Govier

"Rick Rothstein" wrote in message
...
While I've not had to do anything like this myself, it would seem you can
make the "single dot to colon" replacement both position sensitive and
automatic without anyone having to remember anything. For example, the
following installed in the Workbook module should do the "single dot to
colon" replacement **only** for Column E on the worksheet named "Sheet3"
and treat the dot normally everywhere else...

Private Sub Workbook_SheetSelectionChange(ByVal Sh As Object, _
ByVal Target As Range)
With Application.AutoCorrect
On Error Resume Next
If Sh.Name = "Sheet3" Then
If Target.Column = 5 Then
.AddReplacement ".", ":"
Else
.DeleteReplacement "."
End If
Else
.DeleteReplacement "."
End If
End With
End Sub

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Ragdyer" wrote in message
...
Expanding on that old trick:

When the girls in the office where finished entering the time card data
on
Monday morning for the previous week, they always forgot to change back
until they noticed the mistakes they were making (usually wasting a half
hour's work).

So now we use the AutoCorrect to replace *2* decimals with a colon.
12..15 is just about as easy to use as 12.15,
AND, some of them never have to change back, leaving it in force
indefinitely.
--
Regards,

RD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"T. Valko" wrote in message
...
Another trick...

**Temporarily** set up an AutoCorrect option to replace a decimal point
with
the colon. Then enter the time in 24 hr format using the decimal point
instead of the colon. Most people probably use the numeric keypad for
entering numbers. It's a lot more ergonomic to hit the decimal point key
than to have to reach over to the qwerty keys and do <shift colon.

Just remember to reset the AutoCorrect option when you're done. Then
reformat the times as desired.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Rick Rothstein" wrote in message
...
If you are talking about entering the current time (of day), then
Jacob
has given you your answer. If, on the other hand, you mean a time
other
than the current time (such as would be taken from a log sheet of some
kind), then you will need a macro to do what you want. Are you
entering
24-hour time values (1600 for 4:00pm) or would you enter 4:00pm as
400pm
(or perhaps 400 pm with a space between them)? Are you entering the
seconds as well (and, if so, will they always be available for each
entry
or not)?

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Cletus" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How
can
I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?

I am entering 24hr time values - when I enter "1315" and enter I would like
it to automatically change to "13:15"

"Rick Rothstein" wrote:

If you are talking about entering the current time (of day), then Jacob has
given you your answer. If, on the other hand, you mean a time other than the
current time (such as would be taken from a log sheet of some kind), then
you will need a macro to do what you want. Are you entering 24-hour time
values (1600 for 4:00pm) or would you enter 4:00pm as 400pm (or perhaps 400
pm with a space between them)? Are you entering the seconds as well (and, if
so, will they always be available for each entry or not)?

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Cletus" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How can I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?

See this:

http://www.cpearson.com/Excel/DateTimeEntry.htm

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"C" wrote in message
...
I am entering 24hr time values - when I enter "1315" and enter I would like
it to automatically change to "13:15"

"Rick Rothstein" wrote:

If you are talking about entering the current time (of day), then Jacob
has
given you your answer. If, on the other hand, you mean a time other than
the
current time (such as would be taken from a log sheet of some kind), then
you will need a macro to do what you want. Are you entering 24-hour time
values (1600 for 4:00pm) or would you enter 4:00pm as 400pm (or perhaps
400
pm with a space between them)? Are you entering the seconds as well (and,
if
so, will they always be available for each entry or not)?

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Cletus" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How can
I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?

Assuming you only want to enter hours:minutes (that is, no seconds), try
this macro...

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
If Intersect(Target, Range("C:C")) Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
Application.EnableEvents = False
On Error GoTo BadEntry
Target.NumberFormat = "hh:mm"
Target.Value = CDate(Format(Target.Value, "00\:00"))
Application.EnableEvents = True
Exit Sub
BadEntry:
Target.Value = CVErr(xlErrValue)
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

As coded, the first statement is restricting the functionality to Column C
(change the Range statement to the actual range you want covered by this
functionality). To install this macro, right click the tab at the bottom of
the worksheet that you want this functionality on, select View Code from the
popup menu and copy/paste the above code into the code window that appeared.

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"C" wrote in message
...
I am entering 24hr time values - when I enter "1315" and enter I would like
it to automatically change to "13:15"

"Rick Rothstein" wrote:

If you are talking about entering the current time (of day), then Jacob
has
given you your answer. If, on the other hand, you mean a time other than
the
current time (such as would be taken from a log sheet of some kind), then
you will need a macro to do what you want. Are you entering 24-hour time
values (1600 for 4:00pm) or would you enter 4:00pm as 400pm (or perhaps
400
pm with a space between them)? Are you entering the seconds as well (and,
if
so, will they always be available for each entry or not)?

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Cletus" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet in excel that I record length of time in. How can
I
enter the time and have the : automatically entered for me?