How to Quickly Insert a Line Based on the Current Date in Excel

Adding a line in your Excel spreadsheet based on the current date can be useful for tracking progress or visualizing data over time. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Insert Current Date

First, in an empty cell, type =TODAY() to insert the current date. Excel will automatically update this date whenever you open the workbook.

Step 2: Create a Conditional Formatting Rule

Select the range of cells where you want the line to appear. Then go to Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.

Step 3: Define the Rule

In the New Formatting Rule dialog box, choose Format only cells that contain. Under Format only cells with, select equal to from the dropdown list and reference the cell with the TODAY() function. Click Format....

Step 4: Select Border Format

In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the Border tab. Select the line style and color for your line. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Step 5: Check the Results

You should see a line in your selected range that corresponds to today's date.