Dates don´t show as they used to

[1234]

Hi, experts

I don´t know who has tocuhed my workbook but the last time I closed it
I had a column with some dates like:

12/20/2009
12/21/2009
12/22/2009
Now when I open the workbook cells show:
40118
40119
40120
But the content in the formula bar is the same (12/20/2009.....)
How can I fix this

Thank you so much

 

[Bernard Liengme]

Excel stores dates as serial numbers starting on 1/1/1900
That is what you are seeing - the serial values displayed in General format
Read this for more info
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/datetime.htm
All that is needed is for you to select the cells and use Format to get you
favourite date format
best wishes
--
Bernard Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme
Hi, experts

I don´t know who has tocuhed my workbook but the last time I closed it
I had a column with some dates like:

12/20/2009
12/21/2009
12/22/2009
Now when I open the workbook cells show:
40118
40119
40120
But the content in the formula bar is the same (12/20/2009.....)
How can I fix this

Thank you so much

 

[1234]

Hi Bernard

Thanks for your answer, but the problem isn´t the format the problem
is that though the format is correct. In cells appears the serial
number and in the formula bar the date as 12/20/2009. This is the
strange thing. When you apply format it lokks the same in the formula
bar and in cell but that´s not the case.

Thanks

 

[Bernard Liengme]

Does this happen to ALL files or just ONE?
If just ONE, would you like to send me a copy?
Get my email addy from my website
best wishes
--
Bernard Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme

Hi Bernard

Thanks for your answer, but the problem isn´t the format the problem
is that though the format is correct. In cells appears the serial
number and in the formula bar the date as 12/20/2009. This is the
strange thing. When you apply format it lokks the same in the formula
bar and in cell but that´s not the case.

Thanks

 

[Dave Peterson]

You're looking at formulas.

In xl2003 menus:
Tools|Options|View tab|Uncheck formulas.

It's somewhere under the Office button|excel options in xl2007.

In any version, you can hit the shortcut key:
ctrl-`
control-backquote, the key to the left of the 1/! on my USA keyboard is
the shortcut key for toggling this setting.

 

[1234]

That was awesome. Worked pretty well!