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#1
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Cell formatting problem
A new Excel user has made an error, and doesn't remember what she did to
cause this problem: When a date is typed into the cell (eg 6/21/06), the number in the cell is 38889. A different 5 digit number shows up for different dates entered. The date appears properly in the formula bar, and no amount of formatting, clearing contents, deleting, or copy-and-pasting is changing this. This has affected all of the cells in this column. Deleting the column is not really an option. We need to figure out what happened, and how to fix it. I can replicate the error in a new workbook by changing the formatting of a cell in which there is a date (from date format to general format, for example), but I can change it right back by changing the format. I am unable to do that in the workbook in which the error was made. Reformatting the cell MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I apologize for the caps, but I'm a little frustrated. Any help would be much appreciated. Stormy |
#2
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Cell formatting problem
do other columns show the date ok?
You say copy and paste doesn't do anything. Is this to or from outside columns and especially to other sheets in the same workbook? Have you checked to see if there is a macro running in the background changing the format? You may have a corrupted file Try copying everthng in the sheet and pasting to a new sheet. "Stormy" wrote: A new Excel user has made an error, and doesn't remember what she did to cause this problem: When a date is typed into the cell (eg 6/21/06), the number in the cell is 38889. A different 5 digit number shows up for different dates entered. The date appears properly in the formula bar, and no amount of formatting, clearing contents, deleting, or copy-and-pasting is changing this. This has affected all of the cells in this column. Deleting the column is not really an option. We need to figure out what happened, and how to fix it. I can replicate the error in a new workbook by changing the formatting of a cell in which there is a date (from date format to general format, for example), but I can change it right back by changing the format. I am unable to do that in the workbook in which the error was made. Reformatting the cell MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I apologize for the caps, but I'm a little frustrated. Any help would be much appreciated. Stormy |
#3
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Cell formatting problem
The worksheet in question is a grid for scheduling employees (days across the
top, and names down the left side). The column on the far right is used for revision dates. This is the column that is all fouled up. I did not check to see if the other columns show the date ok, as they are all full with scheduling info. As far as copying and pasting, I tried c+p from another sheet in the same workbook, and the contents and formatting came, but the # displayed in the cell still was not what was in the formula bar. Have not checked for a macro, as I don't know how, and would it really be possible for a new Excel user to "accidentally" set up a macro that would change the format? All she was doing was updating the schedule. As far as a corrupted file, again, I wonder how just updating a schedule page (that is updated at least daily) would corrupt the file. Any other ideas? Stormy "bj" wrote: do other columns show the date ok? You say copy and paste doesn't do anything. Is this to or from outside columns and especially to other sheets in the same workbook? Have you checked to see if there is a macro running in the background changing the format? You may have a corrupted file Try copying everthng in the sheet and pasting to a new sheet. "Stormy" wrote: A new Excel user has made an error, and doesn't remember what she did to cause this problem: When a date is typed into the cell (eg 6/21/06), the number in the cell is 38889. A different 5 digit number shows up for different dates entered. The date appears properly in the formula bar, and no amount of formatting, clearing contents, deleting, or copy-and-pasting is changing this. This has affected all of the cells in this column. Deleting the column is not really an option. We need to figure out what happened, and how to fix it. I can replicate the error in a new workbook by changing the formatting of a cell in which there is a date (from date format to general format, for example), but I can change it right back by changing the format. I am unable to do that in the workbook in which the error was made. Reformatting the cell MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I apologize for the caps, but I'm a little frustrated. Any help would be much appreciated. Stormy |
#4
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
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Cell formatting problem
Stormy
Is it possible that you are in "Formula View" which will show the date serial number? Hit CTRL + `(backquote above Tab key) Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:57:22 -0700, Stormy wrote: The worksheet in question is a grid for scheduling employees (days across the top, and names down the left side). The column on the far right is used for revision dates. This is the column that is all fouled up. I did not check to see if the other columns show the date ok, as they are all full with scheduling info. As far as copying and pasting, I tried c+p from another sheet in the same workbook, and the contents and formatting came, but the # displayed in the cell still was not what was in the formula bar. Have not checked for a macro, as I don't know how, and would it really be possible for a new Excel user to "accidentally" set up a macro that would change the format? All she was doing was updating the schedule. As far as a corrupted file, again, I wonder how just updating a schedule page (that is updated at least daily) would corrupt the file. Any other ideas? Stormy "bj" wrote: do other columns show the date ok? You say copy and paste doesn't do anything. Is this to or from outside columns and especially to other sheets in the same workbook? Have you checked to see if there is a macro running in the background changing the format? You may have a corrupted file Try copying everthng in the sheet and pasting to a new sheet. "Stormy" wrote: A new Excel user has made an error, and doesn't remember what she did to cause this problem: When a date is typed into the cell (eg 6/21/06), the number in the cell is 38889. A different 5 digit number shows up for different dates entered. The date appears properly in the formula bar, and no amount of formatting, clearing contents, deleting, or copy-and-pasting is changing this. This has affected all of the cells in this column. Deleting the column is not really an option. We need to figure out what happened, and how to fix it. I can replicate the error in a new workbook by changing the formatting of a cell in which there is a date (from date format to general format, for example), but I can change it right back by changing the format. I am unable to do that in the workbook in which the error was made. Reformatting the cell MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I apologize for the caps, but I'm a little frustrated. Any help would be much appreciated. Stormy |
#5
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
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Cell formatting problem
Gord,
You are awesome! That is the answer to my dilema! The new user must have hit the keys by accident (more unlikely things have happened). I went to her spreadsheet and hit those keys, and everything was fixed. Thanks again, Stormy "Gord Dibben" wrote: Stormy Is it possible that you are in "Formula View" which will show the date serial number? Hit CTRL + `(backquote above Tab key) Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:57:22 -0700, Stormy wrote: The worksheet in question is a grid for scheduling employees (days across the top, and names down the left side). The column on the far right is used for revision dates. This is the column that is all fouled up. I did not check to see if the other columns show the date ok, as they are all full with scheduling info. As far as copying and pasting, I tried c+p from another sheet in the same workbook, and the contents and formatting came, but the # displayed in the cell still was not what was in the formula bar. Have not checked for a macro, as I don't know how, and would it really be possible for a new Excel user to "accidentally" set up a macro that would change the format? All she was doing was updating the schedule. As far as a corrupted file, again, I wonder how just updating a schedule page (that is updated at least daily) would corrupt the file. Any other ideas? Stormy "bj" wrote: do other columns show the date ok? You say copy and paste doesn't do anything. Is this to or from outside columns and especially to other sheets in the same workbook? Have you checked to see if there is a macro running in the background changing the format? You may have a corrupted file Try copying everthng in the sheet and pasting to a new sheet. "Stormy" wrote: A new Excel user has made an error, and doesn't remember what she did to cause this problem: When a date is typed into the cell (eg 6/21/06), the number in the cell is 38889. A different 5 digit number shows up for different dates entered. The date appears properly in the formula bar, and no amount of formatting, clearing contents, deleting, or copy-and-pasting is changing this. This has affected all of the cells in this column. Deleting the column is not really an option. We need to figure out what happened, and how to fix it. I can replicate the error in a new workbook by changing the formatting of a cell in which there is a date (from date format to general format, for example), but I can change it right back by changing the format. I am unable to do that in the workbook in which the error was made. Reformatting the cell MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I apologize for the caps, but I'm a little frustrated. Any help would be much appreciated. Stormy |
#6
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Cell formatting problem
Thanks for the feedback.
Gord On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 12:05:01 -0700, Stormy wrote: Gord, You are awesome! That is the answer to my dilema! The new user must have hit the keys by accident (more unlikely things have happened). I went to her spreadsheet and hit those keys, and everything was fixed. Thanks again, Stormy "Gord Dibben" wrote: Stormy Is it possible that you are in "Formula View" which will show the date serial number? Hit CTRL + `(backquote above Tab key) Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:57:22 -0700, Stormy wrote: The worksheet in question is a grid for scheduling employees (days across the top, and names down the left side). The column on the far right is used for revision dates. This is the column that is all fouled up. I did not check to see if the other columns show the date ok, as they are all full with scheduling info. As far as copying and pasting, I tried c+p from another sheet in the same workbook, and the contents and formatting came, but the # displayed in the cell still was not what was in the formula bar. Have not checked for a macro, as I don't know how, and would it really be possible for a new Excel user to "accidentally" set up a macro that would change the format? All she was doing was updating the schedule. As far as a corrupted file, again, I wonder how just updating a schedule page (that is updated at least daily) would corrupt the file. Any other ideas? Stormy "bj" wrote: do other columns show the date ok? You say copy and paste doesn't do anything. Is this to or from outside columns and especially to other sheets in the same workbook? Have you checked to see if there is a macro running in the background changing the format? You may have a corrupted file Try copying everthng in the sheet and pasting to a new sheet. "Stormy" wrote: A new Excel user has made an error, and doesn't remember what she did to cause this problem: When a date is typed into the cell (eg 6/21/06), the number in the cell is 38889. A different 5 digit number shows up for different dates entered. The date appears properly in the formula bar, and no amount of formatting, clearing contents, deleting, or copy-and-pasting is changing this. This has affected all of the cells in this column. Deleting the column is not really an option. We need to figure out what happened, and how to fix it. I can replicate the error in a new workbook by changing the formatting of a cell in which there is a date (from date format to general format, for example), but I can change it right back by changing the format. I am unable to do that in the workbook in which the error was made. Reformatting the cell MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I apologize for the caps, but I'm a little frustrated. Any help would be much appreciated. Stormy Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP |
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