I have been fighting this issue for sometime.

If I import HTML data that looks like "1-1" or "4-2" i would like it to
come across treated as text. Then I would take that column and split text to
columns so I could end up with column A/row 1 = to 4 and column B/row 1 = 2
(using the 4-2 example above).

Insteand I get a date conversion for any value that could vaguely look like
a date.

1-1 becomes Jan 1
4-2 becomce April 2

Any ideas how to shut off the automatic date processing?

Preformat cells as text
or
precede with '

"PaulT" wrote:

I have been fighting this issue for sometime.

If I import HTML data that looks like "1-1" or "4-2" i would like it to
come across treated as text. Then I would take that column and split text to
columns so I could end up with column A/row 1 = to 4 and column B/row 1 = 2
(using the 4-2 example above).

Insteand I get a date conversion for any value that could vaguely look like
a date.

1-1 becomes Jan 1
4-2 becomce April 2

Any ideas how to shut off the automatic date processing?

Paul

If you are importing this via a web query (DataImport external dataNew web
query...), in the web page dialog (where you select the data you want),
select Options... and check 'disable date recognition'

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
DTHIS
www.nickhodge.co.uk


"PaulT" wrote in message
...
I have been fighting this issue for sometime.

If I import HTML data that looks like "1-1" or "4-2" i would like it to
come across treated as text. Then I would take that column and split text
to
columns so I could end up with column A/row 1 = to 4 and column B/row 1 =
2
(using the 4-2 example above).

Insteand I get a date conversion for any value that could vaguely look
like
a date.

1-1 becomes Jan 1
4-2 becomce April 2

Any ideas how to shut off the automatic date processing?