I'm trying to copy a column of dates in one file to another file in Excel
2003. When I copy the column to the new file the dates are changed. For
example, the original cell in file A reads "06/09/97" for June 9, 1997. When
I copy that cell to file B the copied cell reads "06/08/93". Why is Excel
changing the dates and how can I fix it? Any advice would be greatly
appreciated.

You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback!

You can change the date system in the source file but you'll have the same
problem in the source file, all of your dates will be off by 1462 days.

ToolsOptionsCalculation tab1904 date system

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Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"kmp28385" wrote in message
...
It worked! Thanks so much. I never would have figured that one out on my
own. What an obscure Excel quirk. Thanks again!

"T. Valko" wrote:

It sounds like the file you are copying from is using the 1904 date
system
and the file you are pasting to is using the default 1900 date system.

You have to add 1462 days to the pasted dates. One way to do that:

Enter 1462 in an empty cell
Copy that cell: EditCopy
Select the date cells that need changed
Then, EditPaste SpecialAddOK

This will change the cell format so you'll have to reformat as DATE.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"kmp28385" wrote in message
...
I'm trying to copy a column of dates in one file to another file in
Excel
2003. When I copy the column to the new file the dates are changed.
For
example, the original cell in file A reads "06/09/97" for June 9, 1997.
When
I copy that cell to file B the copied cell reads "06/08/93". Why is
Excel
changing the dates and how can I fix it? Any advice would be greatly
appreciated.