understanding dash dash in a excel formula

[Guest]

I have come across a function I do not understand.
1.
Input
Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM

Formula
=(--RIGHT(B2,LEN(B2) - (FIND(",",B2)+1)))

Result (this is the result I wanted)
10/27/05 8:59 AM

2.
Input
Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM

Formula
=(RIGHT(B3,LEN(B3) - (FIND(",",B3)+1)))

Result ( this is not the result i wanted)
October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM

Why does putting "--" before "RIGHT" give me the desired result?

 

[Bob Phillips]

See http://www.xldynamic.com/source/xld.SUMPRODUCT.html#format

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(remove nothere from email address if mailing direct)

 

[Guest]

The double dash is just a way to convert string to number. The differences
you see may be just formatting. the value should be:

38652.3744097222

to account for the 9 seconds.