Word: Inserting the Current Date in a Header or Footer

Updated 2009.09.14

Objective

• Learn how to put the current date in headers and footers in Word

Inserting the current date

To insert the current date (a date that will always be updated every time you open the document):

· Position the cursor where you want the date to be located in the header or footer.

· The Header & Footer Tools/Design ribbon will appear.

· Then, from the Insert group, click on the Date & Time button.

· Select the desired date format from the list. Click on OK.

Note the Update Automatically check box.

· Not Checked. If this box is not checked, the current date will be inserted and will always be there. So if you open the document today, today's date will be there. If you open the document tomorrow, today's date (or, from the perspective of tomorrow, yesterday's date will be there).

· Checked. If this box is checked, a code for the current date will be inserted and whenever the document is opened the current date will be inserted. So if you open the document today, today's date will appear. But if you open the document tomorrow, tomorrow's date will appear.