WPS DATE is a spreadsheet date function that combines year, month, and day into a date serial number; this guide covers 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 3 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 3 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
About This Feature
Overview
DATE is a built-in function in WPS Spreadsheets that returns the serial number representing a particular date. After you enter the year, month, and day arguments, you can combine separate date values into a result that can be calculated, sorted, and formatted in a spreadsheet.
Core tasks include:
- Insert DATE from the Insert Function dialog.
- Type
=DATE(...)directly in a cell or in the formula bar. - Check the syntax
DATE(year, month, day)in the function help interface.
This is useful for spreadsheet work such as combining split date fields, preparing report dates, and standardizing date entries in WPS Office or Excel-style workflows.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Windows device that can run WPS Office |
| App status | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | A network connection is not required for local formula entry, but it is needed for online help and downloading the app |
| Other | You need to be able to open WPS Spreadsheets and edit worksheet cells |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Check after installation | Open WPS Spreadsheets, then confirm that the Formula tab includes Insert Function |
Source: WPS download page
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability summary | Provides DATE(year, month, day) and returns the serial number for a particular date. You can use it from Insert Function or by typing the formula directly. | Excel provides DATE(year,month,day) to combine separate values into a date and return a serial number. | Google Sheets provides DATE(year, month, day) to convert year, month, and day into a date, and it recalculates out-of-range month or day values. | Notion formulas support date-related functions such as parseDate, dateAdd, dateSubtract, and formatDate, but not a spreadsheet DATE function. | Adobe Acrobat Sign supports calculated-field date functions such as date(), dateAdd(), and dateDiff(), mainly for form calculations. |
| Official source | — | DATE function | DATE | Formula syntax & functions | Add calculated fields to a form |
Advantage: It works directly in spreadsheet cells with date serial numbers and fits naturally into formula-based table workflows. It also supports both dialog-based insertion and direct formula entry.
Overall Conclusion
WPS, Microsoft Excel, and Google Sheets all support spreadsheet-style DATE functions for combining separate year, month, and day values into a usable date. Notion and Adobe also support date handling, but their date tools are aimed more at database formulas or form calculations. For spreadsheet date entry and calculation on Windows, WPS provides a direct path.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main need | How DATE helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Combining split date fields | Data organizers | Year, month, and day are stored in separate columns | Use DATE to combine them into one standard date |
| 2 | Entering fixed business dates | Finance and admin users | A consistent date value is needed quickly | Enter the arguments through the function dialog |
| 3 | Filling formulas across rows | Spreadsheet maintainers | Many rows need the same date formula pattern | Enter DATE once, then fill down |
| 4 | Checking function syntax | New users | The argument order is unclear | Review the syntax and argument notes before entry |
| 5 | Working with other date formulas | Advanced users | The date result needs further sorting, filtering, or calculation | Create the date with DATE, then format or nest it in other formulas |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Item | Free | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Basic spreadsheet formulas | ✅ | ✅ |
| Using the DATE function | ✅ | ✅ |
| Basic spreadsheet editing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Additional PDF, AI, and cloud-related features | Available within the free offering shown on the product pages | More benefits may be available depending on the subscription plan |
Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday spreadsheet entry and basic date calculation | Free | The DATE function itself is available for regular spreadsheet work |
| You also need more PDF, AI, or cloud-related features | WPS Premium | A subscription may provide additional features beyond core spreadsheet use |
How to Subscribe
- Visit the WPS membership page: Subscribe to WPS Premium
Source: WPS Office pricing page