Possible to show last file-save date in a cell?

The script below will put the date last modified onto the clipboard for pasting into your cell, perhaps saving you a trip to Finder Get Info, Jerry's reliable method.

I don't know how to make it fully automatic so that it runs immediately upon opening a document, though there may be a way that the true AppleScript mavens would know.

You would need to run it before making any changes to a document you have just opened. (Or of course, if you remember, you can run it and paste the value in before closing.)

SG

--places date a document was last modified on the clipboard for pasting into Numbers 3

tell application "Numbers" to tell front document to set thePath to its file

tell application "Finder" to set modDate to modification date of file thePath

tell application "System Events" to set the clipboard to date string of modDate

--end of script

There is no timestamp feature built into Numbers. You could add an Applescript (perhaps called Update Timestamp and Save) which could do this. You would have to write this Applescript or see if SG is willing to help.

The 'Today' Automator Service (actually a date-time stamp, i.e. both date and time, so that's a bit of a misnomer; it's really 'Now') can be downloaded here. (Dropbox download). Doubleclicking the .workflow package will move it to the Library>Services folder, making it show up in the Services menu (you may have to click 'download anyway' in System Preferences > Privacy & Security. Like any other menu item it can then be assigned a keyboard shortcut at System Preferences > Keyboard:

To rename it or trash it or open it in Automator to modify it, in Finder hold down the option key and Go > Library > Services.

SG

It's my opinion that you should annotate every log entry with the current date and time, for reasons separate from this flag for your wife. After that, it's a simple master to have the display cell find the MAX date entry in the log and display it. I do this with a document that tracks regular invoice payments such as credit card bills. Each vendor gets a log sheet, and I have a Top Sheet that summarizes when each vendor was last paid, how much, confirmation code, etc. To top sheet works by finding the rows with the MAX dates in the individual sheets and pulling them into the summary.

SG has written an Insert Date and Time Script which you can wrap in an Automator action and assign a Keyboard Shortcut to. This is the easiest way to time-stamp your individual entries.

Jerry

Simplest method would be to alter your workflow.

Start by opening the template (saved with the cell into which the date is to be inserted selected),

Go Numbers > Services > Today.

Fill in the table using your current method.

Print.

(Save)

Close.

This requires creating (or editing) a template in which you have formatted the target cell as Date and Time displaying the date part in the format you want to see it (and the time part as you want it to appear, or not appear), then Selecting the file that will contain the date and Saving the file as a Template.

It also requires downloading and installing SG's "Today" service—a three or four click task with minor thumb-twiddling time while the download occurs.

Both of these are one-off processes, after which the workflow above will apply.

Regards,

Barry

As I'm sure you know but may not have thought of in this context, Finder's Get Info will show you when you last modified the document. You don't even have to open the document to examine this date. Just highlight the filename and Command-I.

Jerry