Works: Calculating an Age from a Date in Database or Spreadsheet (131734)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 6
  • Microsoft Works 2000
  • Microsoft Works 3.0
  • Microsoft Works 4.0
  • Microsoft Works 4.5

This article was previously published under Q131734

SUMMARY

In the Spreadsheet and Database modules of Works for Windows, it is possible to calculate a person's age based on the current date and a date that has been entered into a database field or spreadsheet cell.

MORE INFORMATION

The following formula will calculate a person's age from information that has been entered as a date

=IF(<fieldname><>"",INT((NOW()-<fieldname>)/365.24),"")

where <fieldname> is either the name of the field or the cell reference containing the birth date. See below for both a database and a spreadsheet example.

NOTE: It is important to type two double quotation marks ("") next to each other, without a space in between the quotation marks. If there is a space, Works 4.0 or later will calculate a different answer, due to its ability to distinguish between an actual blank and a space.

Database Example

In the example below, BDate is the birthdate and AgeNow is the person's current age.
     BDate       AgeNow

1    1/1/70   =IF(BDate<>"",INT((NOW()-BDate)/365.24),"")
				
For example, if the current date is 9/1/95, this will display (in list view):
     BDate        AgeNow

1    1/1/70         25
2    3/15/65        30
3                        >---(BDate is blank so AgeNow is also blank.)
4    2/10/61        34
				

Spreadsheet Example

       A          B

1    1/1/70   =IF(A1<>"",INT((NOW()-A1)/365.24),"")
				
If the current date is 9/1/95, this will display:
       A          B       (Highlight the cells in column B as far down as
1    1/1/70       25       you want the formula repeated, and then
                           click Fill Down on the Edit menu.)
				

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/24/2003
Keywords:kbhowto kbui KB131734