# Formula generated date keeps getting re-evaluated everyday

**URL:** https://community.baserow.io/t/formula-generated-date-keeps-getting-re-evaluated-everyday/4230
**Category:** Baserow Help
**Tags:** formula
**Created:** [January 4, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.baserow.io/t/formula-generated-date-keeps-getting-re-evaluated-everyday/4230 "2024-01-04T19:12:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![brchan](https://community.baserow.io/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@brchan](https://community.baserow.io/u/brchan)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.baserow.io/t/formula-generated-date-keeps-getting-re-evaluated-everyday/4230/1 "2024-01-04T19:12:12Z")

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I have a formula field with the following:

```auto
if(field('Active'),datetime_format(today(),'MM/DD/YYYY'),'-')

```

This was working fine in December when I created it and has been untouched until I returned from the holidays. When I revisited the table on January 2nd, all the dates had changed to 1/2/2024. I thought maybe something triggered the formula to re-evaluate but not sure what. Then I found the date keeps updated for the next two days, now every field is 1/4/2024.

This is a private table that no one else can get to and I have only opened it for viewing. The Active field is a check box and also has not changed based on the history, so what is triggering the formula to recalculate everyday?

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![petrs](https://community.baserow.io/user_avatar/community.baserow.io/petrs/32/159_2.png) [@petrs](https://community.baserow.io/u/petrs)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2024, 3:42am UTC](https://community.baserow.io/t/formula-generated-date-keeps-getting-re-evaluated-everyday/4230/2 "2024-01-05T03:42:59Z")

</div>

Hi @brchan, datetime formulas that refer to the current time get updated regularly so that the date is correct. In your case `today()` will always refer to “today”. If you want to have a specific date there you will need to hard code it or refer to a date field where you set your date only when you want it to change.