date format in excel - not cell format

[chariot]

for some reason by date format in excel is set to american style (I'm from the UK) - MM/DD/YY

I've checked my computer settings and it's set to english - everything how it should be.
But I can't change the date format! If I try to change cell format the date of MM/DD/YY is already in there.

any ideas?

 

[jimmywanna]

Have you checked regional settings in the control panel?

Failing that have you made it a custom setting in the number preferences in the tools menu?

thats as far as my knowledge takes me.

jim

 

[chariot]

yes, the regional settings are set as normal. I don't seem to be able to find the number preferences on the Tools menu (using Excel 2000)?

Have tried help in excel but no help!

 

[jimmywanna]

Sorry it's in formating.

cell, number, custom.

Whats the dat doing? is it dd/mm/yyyy or mm/dd/yy?

jim

 

[chariot]

thank you, it's showing ok now.
i can't seem to do any calculations on the fields though, tried to do the datedif function and it just shows #VALUE!

arghh!

 

[jimmywanna]

sorry, My knowledge just ran out mate.

jim

 

[chariot]

no probs, thanks

 

[barry houdini]

Perhaps your dates are formatted as text,

what happens if you try

=DATEDIF(A1+0,B1+0,"y") where your dates are in A1 and B1?