Date format changes copying and pasting between spreadsheets

[Susie]

I am currently working on updating a huge spreadsheet from several
smaller ones. All of a sudden, the large spreadsheet changed all of
the dates in M/DD/YY format to a five digit number. If I double click
on the cell, it will show me the original date that was typed in, but
despite attempting to change the date format, it will still show as a
5 digit number. Also, if I try to re-type it in, it will still change
it or if I copy and paste a date from another spreadsheet. How do I
get those dates back? There are literally thousands of them. :-/

~S

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I am currently working on updating a huge spreadsheet from several
smaller ones. All of a sudden, the large spreadsheet changed all of
the dates in M/DD/YY format to a five digit number. If I double click
on the cell, it will show me the original date that was typed in, but
despite attempting to change the date format, it will still show as a
5 digit number. Also, if I try to re-type it in, it will still change
it or if I copy and paste a date from another spreadsheet. How do I
get those dates back? There are literally thousands of them. :-/

XL stores dates as integer offsets from a base date (1/1/1904 in the Mac
default date system).

If the formula bar (or the cell with in-cell editing) shows the date,
but the cell displays the serial number, the only thing I can think of
is that you've set your window to display cell formulas (either in
Preferences/View, or by typing CMD-` (accent grave, on the same key as
the tilde, and just above the Tab key on a standard US keyboard).

Type CMD-` to display formula results.

 

[Susie]

XL stores dates as integer offsets from a base date (1/1/1904 in the Mac
default date system).

If the formula bar (or the cell with in-cell editing) shows the date,
but the cell displays the serial number, the only thing I can think of
is that you've set your window to display cell formulas (either in
Preferences/View, or by typing CMD-` (accent grave, on the same key as
the tilde, and just above the Tab key on a standard US keyboard).

Type CMD-` to display formula results.

Thank you thank you thank you! That fixed it and saved me much hair
pulling and grief! :-D