Row Cell: Modification Time & Date that updates automatically when user makes changes.

Question

Row Cell: Modification Time & Date that updates automatically when user makes changes.

I have long term experience with Claris FileMaker Pro, databases but less so with Apple's Numbers. Creating a timestamp field, either for creation or modification time and dates is a fairly direct.

I am building a gear inventory system, in Numbers, for a client who runs a small video studio. Each row contains an ID number, brand, model, description, status, location, etc.

I would like to add a cell at the end of each item row that would update the time and date each time a status was changed foe the individual gear item, is it in the field, on set or in storage, etc.

I tried searching the documentation but did not know what this would be called within the Numbers software. I also did not know if the approach to this problem would be a macro / calculation of some sort.

I just need some basic guidance on where to start.

Much thanks.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.4

Posted on Oct 9, 2025 1:43 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Camelot

Level 9

57,999 points

Oct 9, 2025 2:48 PM in response to Garrett Cobarr

That's not likely to be possible.

Numbers does have a NOW() function, but it updates any time there is a change anywhere on the spreadsheet, not within a subset of cells/rows/columns.

There's also no mechanism for pushing a value into another field - i.e. directly setting the value of cell 2 based on the entry in cell 1. Cell 2 can pull the value from Cell 1, but Cell 1 can't push it.

Ultimately, database applications like FileMaker Pro and spreadsheets like Numbers are two different things, and generally, inventory management is more of a database than a spreadsheet application. You might want to consider a different tool if this is a hard requirement.

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Answer 2

Oct 9, 2025 4:11 PM in response to Camelot

Ultimately, database applications like FileMaker Pro and spreadsheets like Numbers are two different things, and generally, inventory management is more of a database than a spreadsheet application. You might want to consider a different tool if this is a hard requirement.

A totally agree, that is why I use FileMaker Pro and not a spreadsheet. But the client is Excel based, I'm building the data in Numbers and will CSV it over to her once this part is complete.

It's an interesting overall system that she uses, Filevine - a turnkey, legal document & resources management system, in which the the spreadsheet lives and is accessed. It has its own single use security lockout and timestamp modification record keeping. So that will work for her.

I could build a custom, smartphone based app with FileMaker but she does not have the budget for that.

Thanks for your help.

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Answer 3

Oct 10, 2025 6:06 AM in response to Camelot

Thanks for the detailed reply that included the "Tip-n-Tricks" idea I needed yesterday....namely...

"Numbers does have a NOW() function, but it updates any time there is a change anywhere on the spreadsheet, not within a subset of cells/rows/columns."

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Answer 4

Camelot

Level 9

57,999 points

Oct 10, 2025 10:02 AM in response to Garrett Cobarr

> ... a turnkey, legal document & resources management system...

Legal professions often have strict data retention and audit requirements to track who made what changes and when.. Definitely something that requires specialized apps that track version control and access management, and not something that Numbers is set up to do.

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