title: Any solution to the Today Calculated Column problem is SharePoint?
body: <p>I would like to be able to use today's date in a calculated column in a SharePoint list to, for example, determine whether a task is overdue.  There is a well-documented trick that involves creating a dummy column named "Today," using it in a formula, and then deleting it, thereby "tricking" SharePoint into using the Today function.</p>
  
  <p>The problem is that this method does not work reliably -- the calculation is not dynamic; it is only made when the item is saved, and therefore the Today "column" effectively becomes the Modified Date.  (This is probably why SharePoint won't let you use the Today function in a straight-forward way.)</p>
  
  <p>Has anyone found a solution that works?  I know I can use javascript to get the actual date on the client side and display colors, flags, whatever, but I am looking for a "server side" solution.</p>
  
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  <p>For reference, the Today column trick and its problems are described fairly well at these two posts and associated comments:
  <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/cjohnson/archive/2006/03/16/552314.aspx" rel="noreferrer">http://blogs.msdn.com/cjohnson/archive/2006/03/16/552314.aspx</a> and <a href="http://pathtosharepoint.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/calculated-columns-the-useless-today-trick/" rel="noreferrer">http://pathtosharepoint.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/calculated-columns-the-useless-today-trick/</a></p>