How do I convert a number formated as a date to text in Excel?

[Guest]

I need to convert several columns of dates in excel to text. When I simply
use the format cells command to reformat the cells to text, it first converts
the date back to the underlying number then converts it to text. Hope I'm
being clear here.

Example - the date as viewed on the screen is Mon (Monday). When I convert
it to text I get 38446. I want "Mon", in text format. Thanks!

 

[Earl Kiosterud]

Brother,

I think only a macro could convert your date to text. Perhaps if you tell
us why you need it in actual text, there are other solutions.

Perhaps

 

[Guest]

I want to synchronize/transfer the spreadsheet to my Palm Handheld. Software
on the Palm called "documents to go" allows users to work with native excel
documents, however the cell formatting options are limited. The date formats
I want to use aren't supported, so I figured that I would change it to text
before transferring it to the Palm. I appreciate your fast response, and
hope this bit of background helps!

 

[Fred Smith]

You can convert any number to text using the Text function. In your case,
use:

=Text(a1,"ddd")

 

[Earl Kiosterud]

Yup. To add to that, if that formula isn't supported by the Palm Handheld,
you could copy, then Paste special - Values right over the original stuff
(or elsewhere).

 

[Guest]

You guys rock! Thanks! I had tried the text function, but wasn't using the
quote marks around the format. Thanks again!