Dates not copying correctly

[mark.norgate]

Hello

I have a problem copying a column filled with dates from one sheet to
another.

The dates are off by four years less a day when I copy them into a
column in a new spreadsheet. Does anyone know why this might be?

Thanks, Mark

 

[mark.norgate]

Hello

I have a problem copying a column filled with dates from one sheet to
another.

The dates are off by four years less a day when I copy them into a
column in a new spreadsheet. Does anyone know why this might be?

Thanks, Mark

Ok, I've discovered the difference is a date formatting issue between
Windows and a Mac. But how do I change the date format in Excel 2004
for Mac? There is no Options option in the Tools menu.

Ta, Mark

 

[Nick Hodge]

Tools>options...>calculation, un-check 1904 date system

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
(e-mail address removed)
www.nickhodge.co.uk

 

[mark.norgate]

Ok, I've discovered the difference is a date formatting issue between
Windows and a Mac. But how do I change the date format in Excel 2004
for Mac? There is no Options option in the Tools menu.

Ta, Mark

Not to worry, found it now.

Having a conversation with myself here...

Mark

 

[Dave Peterson]

Just to add...

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.