Let's say the dates are in column C and the first one is in C2.
Insert a new column D (we will get rid of it soon!)
In D2 enter
=DATE(IF(MOD(C2,100)<10,MOD(C2,100)+2000,MOD(C2,10 0)+1900),INT(C2/100),1)
Now format it with Custom Format of <mmmm yyyy or just <mmm yyyy for
three-letter month names
Copy this down the column - quickest way is to double click D2's fill handle
which is the small solid square in lower right corner of a active cell.
Select all of the D column and copy; with it still selected use Edit | Paste
Special :Values.
Now the D data is a real dates not a formulas so you can delete column C,
making the D column the C column with the dates you want.
best wishes
--
Bernard V Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme
remove caps from email

"CEckels" wrote in message
...
I have a huge spreadsheet where all the dates in the date column are listed
as myy. For example "586" should be May 1986, and "801" should be August
2001.

Is there any way to convert the whole column so i dont' have to manually
change them?

If it helps, the file was an Access file my client burned toa CD. I
opened
it on another computer and this was how the column appeared, so I'mnot
sure
if its a formatting error on his end, or if that is how he actually
entered
the data.

Thanks