I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?

On 20 Dec 2006 19:40:40 -0800, wrote:

I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?

The dates are probably TEXT. (see what you get with a formula
=ISTEXT(cell_ref)

There are a number of methods to convert them, depending on how your data is
set up.

If the data is in a column, and if you select Data/Text to Columns, you may be
able to change the format appropriately at Step 3.

If that doesn't work, post more details.
--ron

ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format

Ron Rosenfeld wrote:
On 20 Dec 2006 19:40:40 -0800, wrote:

I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?

The dates are probably TEXT. (see what you get with a formula
=ISTEXT(cell_ref)

There are a number of methods to convert them, depending on how your data is
set up.

If the data is in a column, and if you select Data/Text to Columns, you may be
able to change the format appropriately at Step 3.

If that doesn't work, post more details.
--ron

ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format

Ron Rosenfeld wrote:
On 20 Dec 2006 19:40:40 -0800, wrote:

I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?

The dates are probably TEXT. (see what you get with a formula
=ISTEXT(cell_ref)

There are a number of methods to convert them, depending on how your data is
set up.

If the data is in a column, and if you select Data/Text to Columns, you may be
able to change the format appropriately at Step 3.

If that doesn't work, post more details.
--ron

With your current date (as text) in A1 enter in B1:
=DATEVALUE(A1) << will return a number where Istext(B1) = FALSE
Format B1 as Date;
HTH

" wrote in message
ps.com:

ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format

Ron Rosenfeld wrote:
On 20 Dec 2006 19:40:40 -0800, wrote:

I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?

The dates are probably TEXT. (see what you get with a formula
=ISTEXT(cell_ref)

There are a number of methods to convert them, depending on how your data is
set up.

If the data is in a column, and if you select Data/Text to Columns, you may be
able to change the format appropriately at Step 3.

If that doesn't work, post more details.
--ron

=Datevalue(A1) returns a #VALUE! error

JMay wrote:
With your current date (as text) in A1 enter in B1:
=DATEVALUE(A1) << will return a number where Istext(B1) = FALSE
Format B1 as Date;
HTH

" wrote in message
ps.com:

ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format

Ron Rosenfeld wrote:
On 20 Dec 2006 19:40:40 -0800, wrote:

I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?

The dates are probably TEXT. (see what you get with a formula
=ISTEXT(cell_ref)

There are a number of methods to convert them, depending on how your data is
set up.

If the data is in a column, and if you select Data/Text to Columns, you may be
able to change the format appropriately at Step 3.

If that doesn't work, post more details.
--ron

At the step 3 of 3 in the Data: Text to Columns wixard, did you select
"Date" in the dialogue for "Column data format", and then choose the
appropriate format "DMY" or whatever to match your input data?
--
David Biddulph

wrote in message
ups.com...
ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format

Ron Rosenfeld wrote:
On 20 Dec 2006 19:40:40 -0800, wrote:

I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?

The dates are probably TEXT. (see what you get with a formula
=ISTEXT(cell_ref)

There are a number of methods to convert them, depending on how your data
is
set up.

If the data is in a column, and if you select Data/Text to Columns, you
may be
able to change the format appropriately at Step 3.

If that doesn't work, post more details.
--ron

Matching the format to my input data did the trick.
Thanks so much!

David Biddulph wrote:
At the step 3 of 3 in the Data: Text to Columns wixard, did you select
"Date" in the dialogue for "Column data format", and then choose the
appropriate format "DMY" or whatever to match your input data?
--
David Biddulph

wrote in message
ups.com...
ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format

Ron Rosenfeld wrote:
On 20 Dec 2006 19:40:40 -0800, wrote:

I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?

The dates are probably TEXT. (see what you get with a formula
=ISTEXT(cell_ref)

There are a number of methods to convert them, depending on how your data
is
set up.

If the data is in a column, and if you select Data/Text to Columns, you
may be
able to change the format appropriately at Step 3.

If that doesn't work, post more details.
--ron

Your a1 cell must contain something other than (example) 9/25/06 or
'9/25/06 -- If "9/25/06" remove the " "'s using
Replace What "
With (leave Blank)
Replace all
HTH

" wrote in message
ups.com:

=Datevalue(A1) returns a #VALUE! error

JMay wrote:
With your current date (as text) in A1 enter in B1:
=DATEVALUE(A1) << will return a number where Istext(B1) = FALSE
Format B1 as Date;
HTH

" wrote in message
ps.com:

ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format

Ron Rosenfeld wrote:
On 20 Dec 2006 19:40:40 -0800, wrote:

I'm using data that has been exported out of a proprietary database
into excel. The dates are formatted as "General" and no matter what I
do, I cannot change them to "Date" format (or any other format for that
matter). Has anybody encountered this?

The dates are probably TEXT. (see what you get with a formula
=ISTEXT(cell_ref)

There are a number of methods to convert them, depending on how your data is
set up.

If the data is in a column, and if you select Data/Text to Columns, you may be
able to change the format appropriately at Step 3.

If that doesn't work, post more details.
--ron

On 21 Dec 2006 03:14:17 -0800, wrote:

ISTEXT Formula returns a TRUE value
But the Data/Text to Columns function was not successful in changing
the format

Did you match the format at step 3 to the format of your input?
--ron