I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a date.
Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues to
show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)

Hi

Perhaps the '5 digit number' is not seen as a number by Excel. Try copying
an empty cell, selecting your range of 'numbers' and then Edit/Paste
Special/Add.

Andy.

"CMIConnie" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a
date.
Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues
to
show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)

Just a guess...

Do you see the date in the formula bar?

If you do, then try this:
tools|options|view tab|uncheck formulas.



CMIConnie wrote:

I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a date.
Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues to
show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)

--

Dave Peterson

Thank you to those who helped me with this problem. Unchecking the formulas
in Tools/Options/View did the trick!!! You saved me so much time. Thanks
again!!!

"CMIConnie" wrote:

I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a date.
Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues to
show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)

"CMIConnie" wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet and I need to format the date column to read as a
date.
Can anyone explain why Excel refuses to apply my date format and continues
to
show the date as an obscure 5 digit number? How can I get Excel to accept
the format I need? Thank you! (I am using Excel 2002)

This might seem like a wise-guy question, but before trying to format, how
are you selecting the appropriate cells?