Format for date in cell

[Priscilla]

Is it possible to format a cell to give the date in
mm/dd/yyyy format without having to type the backslash in
the initial entry?

 

[Paul]

Is it possible to format a cell to give the date in
mm/dd/yyyy format without having to type the backslash in
the initial entry?

Not simply by formatting. Except in the case of formatting a cell as text,
formatting a cell has no effect on how data entry is interpreted. Formatting
affects how an entry is displayed, not how data is entered.

To do what you ask requires VBA. Look here for details:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/DateTimeEntry.htm