Excel 2003 date problem

[Icntoan]

just recently I have had a problem entering dates in Excel in that I can not type in a date without typing in the slashes otherwise the incorrect date is returned. I have tried formatting the cell beforehand but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Can anyone help please cos it's driving me mad!

Thanks

[Machecoul]

How are you entering the date? How do you want to enter the date?

06/04/06

6 Apr

06-04

??

[Icntoan]

I would like to enter the date as follows 01/04/06.

Thanks for your help.

[Machecoul]

I have 2003 at work and will have a look tomorrow.

In excel 2000 - on this machine I have to type the slashes anyway or its just a number.

Can you explain a little bit more what is happening. Or how you would like to do it?

[Icntoan]

Hi. Basically if I don't type the slashes it does just report a number as you say which I think is the number excel holds for that date so that it can do date formulas. Formatting makes no difference. I used to be able to just type the numbers and the correct date would appear. I have had Excel 2003 for quite a while now and I only recently seem to have got this problem. Thanks again for your help.

[Aquariel]

If the formatting doesn't change the look of the cell with the date in, then it seems like you may have the 'view formulas' option turned on.

Go to Tools > Options > View. If the "Formulas" box near the bottom is ticked then untick it to view your dates with your formatting.

[Icntoan]

When I try to format the cell the number does change into a date but the wrong date. If I than copy the formatting to another cell and then try to type a date in without the slashes, it does put a date in but the wrong one again. The only way I can get the correct date is to type the slashes which is a real nuisance. Other people at work are experiencing the same problem.

Thanks for your help.

[Machecoul]

I've had a play with it this morning and see what you mean. I am getting the same thing. No amount of playing about will return the date I want unless I use the slash or full stop to separate the numbers.

I've also had a look at excel help and the only thing I could find was it saying enter dates with a slash etc!!

Looking at various other options in the help section shed no new light on this.

I have to say, thinking about it, I've only ever entered dates using slash or full stop. I have access to various versions of excel so I will have a look at an older one to see if entering 070406 returns 07/04/2006 instead of 04/10/2092 !!

I think you might be stuck with this. Sorry.

Unless .... someone else knows better :)

[Icntoan]

Thanks Machecoul for trying to help. I am sure that I have in the past been able to do dates without doing the slashes. Other people here think the same. Seems very odd!

Oh well- guess I'll just have to get used to it.

Thanks again.