RETURNING A SERIAL NUMBER FROM A DATE

[navyaa]

if have a date like 12/05/2002, how would i generate a serial number from it?

THANK YOU,
NAVYA.

 

[lenze]

If your date is really a date entry, you can just format the cell as NUMBER. (If you have 12/5/2002 in A1, you can enter =A1 in A2 and format A2 as number). If the date is text, use the DATEVALUE function.

 

[Aladin Akyurek]

On 2002-10-29 09:31, navyaa wrote:
if have a date like 12/05/2002, how would i generate a serial number from it?
[...]

A bit strange but...

=DATEVALUE(TEXT(A2,"dd/mm/yy"))

where A2 houses a true date.

Format the formula cell as general.

 

[navyaa]

Thank you very much for your responses.

Aladin,
I tried the date value function but it gives me a VALUE error.My original cell where the date is entered is in the custom format mm/dd/yyyy. Does that make a difference?

Lenze,
I also tried just changing the format to number and it works but how can i do it without having to return the value to another cell. I am trying to use it within a formula where two dates in serial numbers are subtracted.

Thank you very much to you guys for your help,
NavYA.

 

[lenze]

Post your formula. If your date is truly a date, it should work without converting. Otherwise ,use the DATEVALUE function

 

[Mark W.]

See the Excel Help topic for "Tips on entering dates and times".

 

[Barry Katcher]

To show the dates as a number without having to return it to another cell, first format the cells to Number (not General) with zero deciaml places, and then enter the date in date format, i.e. 12/12/2002 will appear as 37602. I'm wondering, though, how you will guard against fumbled input. You'll have just a 5-digit number and not the date to check against.

 

[navyaa]

Thank you very much everyone, I got it to work for what I was trying to do using all your suggestions.

Thank you again and i hope you all have a good day


Navya.