Need HELP !!!!

[ahmad123]

Hello,

I am asked to sort data in a pivot table sheet.
The data are dates but excel (for certain reason) dosent recognise that these are dates and trating them as numbers.
01.2010
02.2011
01.2011
02.2010

Excel is sorting it to me as following:

01.2010
01.2011
02.2010
02.2011

What i need is:

01.2010
02.2010
01.2011
02.2011
(just as if it was dates with MM.YYYY format)

ill appreciate greatly the help of anyone.

Thank you

 

[kpark91]

have you tried custom formatting the cells?

I think it's m.yyyy

 

[Desu Nota from Columbus]

You can convert these numbers stored as text into dates by using this formula: I assumed the 01.2010 was in A1, this formula then goes in B1

=--(LEFT(A1,2)& "/" &(RIGHT(A1,4)))

Then you can set the date format to whatever you like.

Takes 01.2010 to 01/2010 and changes it into a number that excel recognizes

 

[ahmad123]

Thanks alot,

But can you please tell me what should i do after creating this B column??

how the A column could be sorted using the B column ??

 

[Desu Nota from Columbus]

I would insert a new column to the immediate right of the original "dates"--the .01.2010. I would plug in this formula in the created column and then hide the original. Use the new column of usable data for the pivot table.

Is this what you wanted to know?