Hi David,

I've tried your suggested option and it appears to work. Many thanks for
that.

We have only recently come across this issue as users used to be able to
open these csv files in excel, edit, save and they would stay in the same
date format (ie dd/mm/yyyy). This problem appears to be occurring on users
with new PCs. Any ideas on what may be done (or not done) during an excel
install which would cause this problem?

Thanks again

Deanne

"David Biddulph" wrote:

If the users don't want Excel to change the format of the csv file, the
shouldn't use File/ Open or double-click on the csv file, but should open it
with Data/ Import External Data and specify the columns as Text.
--
David Biddulph

"Deanne" wrote in message
...
When the users analyse and update the data they use excel to open the
file.

"Tyro" wrote:

How does Excel enter into this? You don't state anything about Excel

Tyro

"Deanne" wrote in message
...
We have .csv files that are automatically created and then loaded into
a
billing system. Currently the users need to go into these .csv files
to
analyse the data and make any necessary changes before the file is
loaded
into the billing system.

When the file is created by the original system the date column is in
the
format DD/MM/YYYY HH:MM and this is the format that the billing system
expects to receive it. However, once the user opens the file and then
saves
it the date format chagnes to MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM. I've double checked by
opening the file in notepad once it has been saved and the date format
is
definitely being changed.

I have checked the regional settings under control panel and confirmed
that
all dates are set to MM/DD/YYYY. This issue has caused some major
issues
in
our billing system as the dates no longer correspond to data already in
the
system.

Please help.