DATE

[PhilObrien]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) When I copy data from a downloaded csv file to an excell spreadsheet the dates are wrong. They have 4 years and 1 day added to them. because there are already correct dates in the target sheet I cant solve the problem by changing the preferences. I have also tried EDIT > PASTE SPECIAL > VALUES but the Mac doesn't offer the option of subtracting or adding to the incorrect dates. Is there any way I can correct the incorrect dates in the target file?

 

[CyberTaz]

The problem stems from the fact that the CSV was created by a system using
the 1900 Date System and you are pasting into a Mac workbook which is set to
use the 1904 Date System. IOW, copy/paste is the real problem because you
are actually copying the serial date values which differ by 4 years & 1 day.

If you Open the CSV rather than copying from it you'll be able to use the
Paste Special features... They aren't available for content copied from a
Text File ore other such sources. See the information here, specifically the
topic that deals with 'Correcting Shifted Dates':

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/214330/en-us?spid=2513&sid=global

BTW: Just for general info this is not a Mc v. PC issue Both Date
Systems are supported on both platforms & it's a setting specific to the
workbook file. It's just that 1900 is the default in Windows versions but
1904 is the default on the Mac.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac