Multi-Language Issue - TEXT function

[Johnny]

Hi all,

I have a spreadsheet template that I use to create Excel workbooks
that are being used by French, Spanish, German, and English speakers
using those respective versions of Windows and MS Office. I make use
of the the =TEXT(<text>,<format>) function in several places in these
workbooks to manipulate dates. The <format> argument takes entries
like "m", "dd", "yyyy", etc.

Of course, those arguments change in languages other then English. I
guess I could store multilanguage info on a hidden worksheet or as
constants in a module and look them up after checking the language
version, but this is obviously a workaround.

Can anyone direct me to a good discussion of multilanguage issues in
Excel? I'm aware of this TEXT function "trap for the unwary", but I
wonder what else I'm missing!!!! I don't have machines with these
various languages installed to run tests.

Thanks,
Johnny

 

[Charles Williams]

I would strongly recommend getting Stphen Bullens Excel 200n VBA book, it
has an excellent chapter on International issues with Excel.

regards
Charles

 

[Johnny]

Thanks for the advice. When you said the author's name, I remembered
that someone near by had that book on the shelf. I agree: it's a
great round-up of international issues.

Anyway, the author addresses this specific question and provides a
workaround: using the GET.CELL() Excel 4 marco function. He then
warns that sometimes you can get errors.

As I read the chapter, something caught my attention that made me
think of a simpler workaround: all VBA is written in American
English, regardless of the language version of Windows XP and Office
that is installed. So, I simple work a function to wrap the FORMAT
function in VBA. That way, I can guarantee that the string
representing the date will always be formatted based on regional
settings, but using American English inputs. The best of both worlds.

To all:

If you want more info on this, please send me an email
(j~~~~mere~~~~dith AT gm~~~ail.co~~~~m; delete the ~'s of course).
I'm happy to discuss this.

Thanks,
Johnny

 

[killy]

Hi Johnny, question... how can i add a new laguage for my spelling if are not
the default ones?
Thanks,

k