date copy error

[DB]

When I copy a cell with a date from one Excel file to
another, the date changes. Example: 1/1/2003 copied to a
different/new file becomes 12/30/1998. Originating cell
is formatted as MMM-YY. Format copies just fine, but the
date changes.

HELP!!!!!

 

[Harald Staff]

Hi

The from workbook is set to 1904 calendar format (macintosh), the to
workbook is 1900 (windows). All solutions to this may have similar side
effects elsewhere.

HTH. Best wishes Harald

 

[Dave Peterson]

Just some more info:

One workbook was using a base year of 1900 and the other was using 1904.
(tools|options|calculation tab|1904 date system)

One way to add those four years back is to find an empty cell, put 1462 into
that cell.

Copy that cell.

Select your range that contains the dates. Edit|PasteSpecial|click Add (in the
operation box).

You may have to reformat the cell as a date (mine turned to a 5 digit number).
But it should work.

You may want to do it against a copy...just in case.

(I'm not sure which one you'll fix. You may want to edit|pastespecial|click
subtract.)

Most windows users use 1900 as the base date. Mac users (mostly??) use 1904 as
the base date.