Initial Value of DateTime column =NOW() results in Excel formula "=NOW()" inserted in new row

[MattJP]

Hi there, I could not find anything that covered this issue and would appreciate some advice. Thanks in advance.

Initial value of a datetime column on insert is set to NOW() in AppSheet.
The aim was to record the date and time (approx) of the insert of each row.

The data is stored in an Excel workbook.

When a row is inserted the Excel cell for the datetime value is set to the Excel formula “=NOW()”. Here, with formulae shown, is what was inserted.

This means that instead of getting a timestamp of roughly when the row was inserted, I get the same result in all rows, namely the current time as Excel sees it.

I’m new and am surely doing something stupid but I’m stumped. Grateful for any advice.