1904 Date on new workbooks

[john.e.palmer]

In MacExcel 2004, my default workbook template has the 1904 date
system unchecked. When I open Excel, the workbook preferences show
1904 unchecked.

However, if I then open a new workbook (CMD+N), the date system is
1904.

How do I tell Mac to take their date system and, er, go away. I want
ALL new Excel spreadsheets to default to the 1900 system (obviously in
need to check those created by other Mac users).

Thanks.

BTW, the schmuck that decided to have 1/1/1904 as the default ranks
right up there with the IBMer that decided that 640k was more than
enough memory.

 

[john.e.palmer]

In MacExcel 2004, my default workbook template has the 1904 date
system unchecked. When I open Excel, the workbook preferences show
1904 unchecked.

However, if I then open a new workbook (CMD+N), the date system is
1904.

How do I tell Mac to take their date system and, er, go away. I want
ALL new Excel spreadsheets to default to the 1900 system (obviously in
need to check those created by other Mac users).

Thanks.

BTW, the schmuck that decided to have 1/1/1904 as the default ranks
right up there with the IBMer that decided that 640k was more than
enough memory.

I just checked and it's the same in Excel 2008.

thanks.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

In MacExcel 2004, my default workbook template has the 1904 date
system unchecked. When I open Excel, the workbook preferences show
1904 unchecked.

However, if I then open a new workbook (CMD+N), the date system is
1904.

How do I tell Mac to take their date system and, er, go away. I want
ALL new Excel spreadsheets to default to the 1900 system (obviously in
need to check those created by other Mac users).

Thanks.

BTW, the schmuck that decided to have 1/1/1904 as the default ranks
right up there with the IBMer that decided that 640k was more than
enough memory.

You will need to make a workbook template with the proper date system set.
(Explained thoroughly in Excel help. Post back here if you are still having
problems.)

By the way, the 1904 date system is a direct result of the error caused by
some "schmuck" who built Lotus 1-2-3 and decided 1900 was a leap year (which
it is not.) the 1904 date system was initiated on Macs to avoid this 1-2-3
bug.

 

[john.e.palmer]

You will need to make a workbook template with the proper date system set.
(Explained thoroughly in Excel help. Post back here if you are still having
problems.)

By the way, the 1904 date system is a direct result of the error caused by
some "schmuck" who built Lotus 1-2-3 and decided 1900 was a leap year (which
it is not.) the 1904 date system was initiated on Macs to avoid this 1-2-3
bug.

Thanks for the help. I thought I had walked through the workbook
template process correctly, but apparently I haven't. If I have
questions about it, I'll post back.

Also, thanks for clearing up who the schmuck really was. My apologies
to Mac.
I just tried 1/1/1900 in both the 1900 and 1904 system. In the 1904
system, I get a #NUM! error, we leads to the question of how does one
handle dates less than (older than) 1? This is an occaisonal problem
for me in both systems as I have meteorlogical and hydrological data
that extends back to the 1880's. (and yes, I tried 30 in the 1900
system and it does yield 2/29/1900 <g>)

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I just tried 1/1/1900 in both the 1900 and 1904 system. In the 1904
system, I get a #NUM! error, we leads to the question of how does one
handle dates less than (older than) 1? This is an occaisonal problem
for me in both systems as I have meteorlogical and hydrological data
that extends back to the 1880's. (and yes, I tried 30 in the 1900
system and it does yield 2/29/1900 <g>)

See

http://www.j-walk.com/ss/excel/files/xdate.htm

 

[john.e.palmer]

See

http://www.j-walk.com/ss/excel/files/xdate.htm

Steps I have taken to create workbook template with 1900 as default
date system:
1. Created single sheet workbook with date as 1900 (1904 unchecked)
2. Saved as template named "Workbook" (no extension) in
Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Startup:Excel
3. Defined Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Startup:Excel as
alternative startup file location folder in Preferences:General.

When Excel opens, the template "Workbook" opens and the dates are in
1900 system. However, if I open a second workbook using either
File:New or CMD+N, the second workbook defaults to the 1904 date
system.

If I open Excel by clicking on a file in Finder (which is something I
do quite often), Excel opens with the correct default Workbook and the
clicked upon file. However, if I open a second workbook using either
File:New or CMD+N, the second workbook defaults to the 1904 date
system.

My problem appears to be with opening new workbooks subsequent to the
original. If I use Project Gallery, which isn't nearly as convenient
as CMD+N, Excel wants to overwrite the first Workbook.

How do I get all the blank workbooks that I open to default to the
1900 date system?

Thanks for the help (and the link to the pre-1900 date addins). And I
wish there were a PUP6 for Mac!

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Steps I have taken to create workbook template with 1900 as default
date system:
1. Created single sheet workbook with date as 1900 (1904 unchecked)
2. Saved as template named "Workbook" (no extension) in
Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Startup:Excel
3. Defined Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Startup:Excel as
alternative startup file location folder in Preferences:General.

Since that's the default startup file location, try clearing the
Alternate Startup File input box.

When Excel opens, the template "Workbook" opens and the dates are in
1900 system. However, if I open a second workbook using either
File:New or CMD+N, the second workbook defaults to the 1904 date
system.

The only way I can replicate this is if Workbook in the startup file, is
saved as an XL workbook rather than a template

When you open XL, is the initial workbook named "Workbook1" or
"Workbook"?

If the latter, you're opening the workbook named "Workbook".

If the former, XL is opening a file based on the template "Workbook".

 

[john.e.palmer]

Since that's the default startup file location, try clearing the
Alternate Startup File input box.


The only way I can replicate this is if Workbook in the startup file, is
saved as an XL workbook rather than a template

When you open XL, is the initial workbook named "Workbook1" or
"Workbook"?

If the latter, you're opening the workbook named "Workbook".

If the former, XL is opening a file based on the template "Workbook".

Thanks for the tips. The Workbook1 vs. Workbook lead me down the
right path. I was opening "Workbook". I went into
Applications:Microsoft Office 2004:Startup:Excel and deleted all the
templates. I noticed that in this folder I also have a file called
"Personal Macro Workbook", which holds my macros and is a hidden
folder when Excel opens. I left that.

I then recreated a template per the help directions and that worked.
It's worked properly since then.

THANKS!

 

[john.e.palmer]

Since that's the default startup file location, try clearing the
Alternate Startup File input box.


The only way I can replicate this is if Workbook in the startup file, is
saved as an XL workbook rather than a template

When you open XL, is the initial workbook named "Workbook1" or
"Workbook"?

If the latter, you're opening the workbook named "Workbook".

If the former, XL is opening a file based on the template "Workbook".

I spoke too soon. I are now kerflummoxed.
(1) I open XL and workbook1 is in 1900 date system.
(2) I open an XL file which is 1900 date system.
(3) I take two sheets from the XL file and Edit/Move/Create a copy to
a "new book" and they are shifted to the 1904 date system.
(4) I open an empty worksheet using CMD+N and it's in 1900 date
system. I take the empty worksheet and Edit/Move/Create a copy to a
"new book" and it's in 1904 date system.

Does this mean that the Edit/Move etc. is independent of any template
preferences? Anyway to have this action consistent with the 1900 date
system?

Thanks.

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

I spoke too soon. I are now kerflummoxed.
(1) I open XL and workbook1 is in 1900 date system.
(2) I open an XL file which is 1900 date system.
(3) I take two sheets from the XL file and Edit/Move/Create a copy to
a "new book" and they are shifted to the 1904 date system.
(4) I open an empty worksheet using CMD+N and it's in 1900 date
system. I take the empty worksheet and Edit/Move/Create a copy to a
"new book" and it's in 1904 date system.

Does this mean that the Edit/Move etc. is independent of any template
preferences? Anyway to have this action consistent with the 1900 date
system?

Thanks.

I agree, this should not happen. I suggest you try to make a worksheet
template, just like you did for the workbook, name it worksheet (no
extension), store it in the same place; and see what happens. Please let us
know the results.

 

[john.e.palmer]

I agree, this should not happen. I suggest you try to make a worksheet
template, just like you did for the workbook, name it worksheet (no
extension), store it in the same place; and see what happens. Please let us
know the results.

I saved a worksheet template in the same directory as workbook
template (Macintosh HD:Applications:Microsoft Office
2004:Office:Startup:Excel).

If I open XL, type 1 in A1 and format/date, it's 1/1/900.
If I take that worksheet and edit/move/create a copy/(new book), the
date changes to 1/2/1904.

If I add a sheet to the original workbook, the date system is 1900.
If I add a sheet to the moved workbook, the date system is 1904.

If I open a WinExcel created workbook and edit/move/create a copy/new
book, the date system still changes to 1904.

Suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

I saved a worksheet template in the same directory as workbook
template (Macintosh HD:Applications:Microsoft Office
2004:Office:Startup:Excel).

If I open XL, type 1 in A1 and format/date, it's 1/1/900.
If I take that worksheet and edit/move/create a copy/(new book), the
date changes to 1/2/1904.

If I add a sheet to the original workbook, the date system is 1900.
If I add a sheet to the moved workbook, the date system is 1904.

If I open a WinExcel created workbook and edit/move/create a copy/new
book, the date system still changes to 1904.

Suggestions?
Thanks!

Nope. Sorry, out of ideas. The date style is at the workbook level. So it
looks like Excel is not taking the workbook template when creating a new
sheet. Possibly a bug.

 

[Todd Aton]

This may be a bug. We'll investigate. Thanks for doing such thorough
investigation and clearly reporting the iterative results. Sorry that this
is causing you so much trouble.

Todd Aton
Macintosh Business Unit
Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft makes no warranties, express, implied or statutory, as to the
information in this post.