Entering dates for computation purposes

alonzo3 · Mar 15th, 2002, 08:34 AM

1. When I enter ="1/1/1995" on a NEW worksheet,I get a numerical answer as expected.
2. When I enter the same info on an EXISTING
worksheet,I get the date and cannot get EXCEL to recognize it as a number.
3. How can I correct this situation?

Thanks ... Al Nasitano

Dave Hawley · Mar 15th, 2002, 08:38 AM

Hi

Probably you have the cells formatted as Text, use any date format.

Or you can easily convert by copying a number 0 from any cell, selecting the dates and going to Edit>Paste Special | Add then format as dates

Al Chara · Mar 15th, 2002, 08:39 AM

Try it without the quotation marks.

Hope this helps.
Kind regards, Al.

Dave Hawley · Mar 15th, 2002, 08:45 AM

Good point!

alonzo3, are you sure you were getting a real number on a new worksheet using

="1/1/1995"

???

Mark W. · Mar 15th, 2002, 10:51 AM

Quote:

On 2002-03-15 07:34, alonzo3 wrote:
1. When I enter ="1/1/1995" on a NEW worksheet,I get a numerical answer as expected.
2. When I enter the same info on an EXISTING
worksheet,I get the date and cannot get EXCEL to recognize it as a number.
3. How can I correct this situation?

Thanks ... Al Nasitano

Enter ="1/1/1995"+0 instead.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Mar 15th, 2002, 08:34 AM	#1
alonzo3 New Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2	1. When I enter ="1/1/1995" on a NEW worksheet,I get a numerical answer as expected. 2. When I enter the same info on an EXISTING worksheet,I get the date and cannot get EXCEL to recognize it as a number. 3. How can I correct this situation? Thanks ... Al Nasitano

Mar 15th, 2002, 08:38 AM	#2
Dave Hawley Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,582	Hi Probably you have the cells formatted as Text, use any date format. Or you can easily convert by copying a number 0 from any cell, selecting the dates and going to Edit>Paste Special \| Add then format as dates

Mar 15th, 2002, 08:39 AM	#3
Al Chara MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Monterrey, Mexico Posts: 1,433	Try it without the quotation marks. Hope this helps. Kind regards, Al.

Mar 15th, 2002, 08:45 AM	#4
Dave Hawley Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,582	Good point! alonzo3, are you sure you were getting a real number on a new worksheet using ="1/1/1995" ???