software

I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a date.
Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues to
show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)

Hi

Perhaps the '5 digit number' is not seen as a number by Excel. Try copying
an empty cell, selecting your range of 'numbers' and then Edit/Paste
Special/Add.

Andy.

quot;CMIConniequot; gt; wrote in message
news
gt;I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a
gt;date.
gt; Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues
gt; to
gt; show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
gt; the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)
Just a guess...

Do you see the date in the formula bar?

If you do, then try this:
tools|options|view tab|uncheck formulas.
CMIConnie wrote:
gt;
gt; I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a date.
gt; Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues to
gt; show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
gt; the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)

--

Dave Peterson

Thank you to those who helped me with this problem. Unchecking the formulas
in Tools/Options/View did the trick!!! You saved me so much time. Thanks
again!!!

quot;CMIConniequot; wrote:

gt; I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a date.
gt; Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues to
gt; show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
gt; the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)


quot;CMIConniequot; gt; wrote in message
news
gt;I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a
gt;date.
gt; Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues
gt; to
gt; show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
gt; the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)

This might seem like a wise-guy question, but before trying to format, how
are you selecting the appropriate cells?