Problem with dates

[Lasse]

Hi.

I have a date problem. I have got a workbook with a date column from a
friend.
When I copy a cell from the date colomn and past it in another workbook I
get a different date.
When I format it in text format, there are the same numbers.

For example:
I have a cell with format Date (15-3 05) and the cell value 27-5 05. (The
value for this cell in text format is 37037). I copy this cell and past it
in a New Workbook, and the date is 26-5 01. I look at the format and it´s
the same. And the value in text format is also the same, 37037.
But when I past it in the same workbook I copy it from, the date is correct.

How can this happend?
Does anybody know a reason for this happening?

//Lasse

 

[Niek Otten]

There are two date systems in Excel; the "normal" one and the 1904-system,
which can be chosen in Windows versions and is standard in Mac versions. The
difference is 4 years.
Check both systems: Tools>Options>Calculation tab, check/uncheck "1904 date
system"

 

[Dave Peterson]

Just to add to Niek's response...

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.