How to Copy an Excel Value When Today Matches a Date in WPS Office
Question details
The user needs to retrieve a corresponding value from a WPS Spreadsheets worksheet when the current date matches a date column, and to keep a permanent copy of that value after the date changes.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A worksheet contains dates in one column and values in another; the user wants to automatically return the value for today's date and save it as a static snapshot.
- Observed behavior
- A lookup formula returns the live value but recalculates when today's date changes, so a formula alone cannot preserve a static value.
Confirm that the date column contains real date values rather than text, and identify the exact date range and the matching value column before writing the lookup formula.
Use XLOOKUP with TODAY to Return the Matching Value
Use this method when you need a live result that always updates to show the value for the current date.
XLOOKUP looks up today's date in the date column and returns the value from the matching row. This live result is useful for dashboards, daily summaries, and reports that should always reflect the current date.
Open the file in WPS Spreadsheets and click the cell where you want the matching value to appear.
Type =XLOOKUP(TODAY(),A2:A12,B2:B12,"Not found") into the formula bar or cell, replacing A2:A12 with your date range and B2:B12 with your value range.
Press Enter. WPS Spreadsheets returns the value from the row where column A matches today's date, or "Not found" if there is no match.
Paste the Lookup Result as a Permanent Value
Use this method when you need a static snapshot that will not change after the date changes.
Match Today's Date and Save the Result as a Static Value in WPS
Use WPS Spreadsheets to build a live date lookup and freeze the result as a value. Enter XLOOKUP with TODAY to get the current match, then use Paste Special > Values to create a historical snapshot without additional add-ins.
- 1. Open the workbook in WPS Spreadsheets: Open the file that contains the date column and the value column you want to match.
- 2. Enter the live lookup formula: Select the target cell and enter =XLOOKUP(TODAY(),A2:A12,B2:B12,"Not found"), adjusting the ranges to match your worksheet.
- 3. Verify the returned value: Press Enter and confirm that WPS Spreadsheets returns the value from the row with today's date.
- 4. Copy the result as a value: Copy the formula cell, right-click the destination cell, and choose Paste Special > Values to remove the formula and keep the current result.
- 5. Save the workbook: Save the file in WPS Spreadsheets, or choose Save As to keep it as an .xlsx file for Microsoft Excel compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a formula permanently paste a value when the date changes?
No. Formulas recalculate automatically, so they cannot permanently store a changing result. To keep a value after the date changes, copy the formula cell and use Paste Special > Values, or use automation such as VBA or Power Automate.
Which formula returns a value if today's date is not found?
Use =XLOOKUP(TODAY(),A2:A12,B2:B12,"Not found"). If today's date is not in the lookup range, the formula returns "Not found" instead of an error.
Does WPS Spreadsheets support XLOOKUP?
Modern versions of WPS Office Spreadsheets support XLOOKUP. If your version does not, use VLOOKUP or INDEX and MATCH as alternatives.
How do I copy only the lookup result without the formula?
Copy the formula cell, right-click the destination cell, and choose Paste Special > Values. This pastes the displayed value and removes the underlying formula.
Can I automate the snapshot when today's date matches?
Yes. You can create a VBA macro or use a scheduled automation tool to copy the formula result and paste it as a value on a target sheet when the date changes.
