How do I change date format?
 

I have just upgraded to Excel 2003 from 2000. I have a date field which
looks like this: 03/05/05. The new 2003 file looks like thie: 03/05/2005
00:00AM. When I select FormatCell, I get nothing. Unable to clear the
field and start over. Can not get the format screen to appear. When I try
with an unused field, I get the FormatCell screen with the various tabs.
What gives?

Hi Jon,
It is controlled in your short date format in your system regional settings.

Windows Start, Settings, Control Panel, Regional options, date(tab),
Short date format: mm/dd/yy
if the 03 is for March.

But is doesn't make sense that you would have the time in your regional
date format.



HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"Jon H." <Jon wrote in message ...
I have just upgraded to Excel 2003 from 2000. I have a date field which
looks like this: 03/05/05. The new 2003 file looks like thie: 03/05/2005
00:00AM. When I select FormatCell, I get nothing. Unable to clear the
field and start over. Can not get the format screen to appear. When I try
with an unused field, I get the FormatCell screen with the various tabs.
What gives?

Thanks David,

I have found that I can control somewhat the format of the cells by going
into the Style section. But I can not access all cells this way. I think I
solved the initial problem using this approach though. Still can not access
the format screen through the pull down menu, only through the style sub-menu
entry. Then, selecting date, I can set the date format and other tab
settings.


"David McRitchie" wrote:

Hi Jon,
It is controlled in your short date format in your system regional settings.

Windows Start, Settings, Control Panel, Regional options, date(tab),
Short date format: mm/dd/yy
if the 03 is for March.

But is doesn't make sense that you would have the time in your regional
date format.



HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"Jon H." <Jon wrote in message ...
I have just upgraded to Excel 2003 from 2000. I have a date field which
looks like this: 03/05/05. The new 2003 file looks like thie: 03/05/2005
00:00AM. When I select FormatCell, I get nothing. Unable to clear the
field and start over. Can not get the format screen to appear. When I try
with an unused field, I get the FormatCell screen with the various tabs.
What gives?