Date troubles

[Dee]

I have to track the beginning and end dates for student
evaluations completed at 31 schools. I currently have
worksheets set up with formatting in cells respective to
the data to be entered there. In the two date columns, I
have somehow managed to change the formatting (I think)
and now the dates appear as five digit numbers. If I hi-
lite the cell, the correct date appears in the formula bar
but not in the cell itself. I was using the toggle (ctrl
+ f6) and may have hit another key(s) which caused this
problem. Attempts to "undo" the action were unsuccessful.
I have tried reformatting the cell thru Format + Cells and
choosing Date under the Number tab, but to no avail,
nothing changes. Please, if anyone can help me, I will be
eternally grateful!

 

[Jim]

Select all the cells and Format>Cells>Number>Date>*choose a format*>OK

 

[Jim]

BTW, those numbers are the number of days elapsed since 1/1/1900.