Dates in Excel 2000

[LPS]

I have a user who is trying to enter dates in a column,
using Excel 2000. She is using the date format of "Mon-
YY" (e.g.; Jan-03).The entire column has been formatted
with this date format. When she types in a date higher
than Jan-00, the date changes to something else. For
example, when she types in Jan-01 it converts to Jan-03,
or Feb-02 converts to Feb-03.

Any ideas as to why?

Thx.

 

[Paul]

I have a user who is trying to enter dates in a column,
using Excel 2000. She is using the date format of "Mon-
YY" (e.g.; Jan-03).The entire column has been formatted
with this date format. When she types in a date higher
than Jan-00, the date changes to something else. For
example, when she types in Jan-01 it converts to Jan-03,
or Feb-02 converts to Feb-03.

Any ideas as to why?

Thx.

Formatting a cell with a particular date format does NOT define how a date
can be entered. You must enter dates in a manner that Excel will understand,
and that must always include a day. For example, 1/2/03, 1-2-03, 1 Jan 03
are all acceptable inputs and will be treated as dates.

When you enter Jan-01, Excel interprets the 01 as the day (i.e. first of the
month). Excel thinks you have not entered the year, and so applies the
current year.

I must emphasise that Jan 2001 (however you enter it) is NOT a date. A date
MUST include a day. You can format a date as Mmm-yy, and then any date in
January 2003 (e.g. 1/1/03 or 15/1/03 or 31/1/03) will display as Jan-03. But
the underlying date still includes the day. Formatting a cell only alters
how it is displayed.

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

I must emphasise that Jan 2001 (however you enter it) is NOT a date.

Actually, if I enter Jan 2001, XL interprets it as 1/1/2001


--ron