General Format to Date Format

  • Thread starter Thread starter weinstein.greg
  • Start date Start date
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weinstein.greg

I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?
 
I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?
Click to expand...

The dates are probably TEXT. (see what you get with a formula
=ISTEXT(cell_ref)

There are a number of methods to convert them, depending on how your data is
set up.

If the data is in a column, and if you select Data/Text to Columns, you may be
able to change the format appropriately at Step 3.

If that doesn't work, post more details.
--ron
 
ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format
 
ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format
 
With your current date (as text) in A1 enter in B1:
=DATEVALUE(A1) << will return a number where Istext(B1) = FALSE
Format B1 as Date;
HTH
 
=Datevalue(A1) returns a #VALUE! error
With your current date (as text) in A1 enter in B1:
=DATEVALUE(A1) << will return a number where Istext(B1) = FALSE
Format B1 as Date;
HTH
Click to expand...
 
At the step 3 of 3 in the Data: Text to Columns wixard, did you select
"Date" in the dialogue for "Column data format", and then choose the
appropriate format "DMY" or whatever to match your input data?
 
Your a1 cell must contain something other than (example) 9/25/06 or
'9/25/06 -- If "9/25/06" remove the " "'s using
Replace What "
With (leave Blank)
Replace all
HTH
 
ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format
Click to expand...

Did you match the format at step 3 to the format of your input?
--ron
 
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