Numbers change to a date format

[Gregg]

I don't use Excel much, but when I enter a set of numbers in one cell, it
automatically changes to a date format (mm/dd/yyyy) as well as changing the
numbers I entered when I hit return or go to the next cell. How do I disable
this feature? Thanks.

 

[Dave Peterson]

If the values you enter look like dates, then excel will treat them like dates.

You can stop this by making sure you're entering the values as text.

You can Pre-Format the cells as Text
(Format|cells|number tab in xl2003 menus)
Then enter your value.

Or you can prepend an apostrophe to your entry:
'12/31

If you're really typing simple numbers (whole numbers or decimals), then this
isn't the problem.

Maybe you have the cell formatted as a date--or maybe you have an event macro
that's firing that's doing the change.

(But you'll have to supply examples of what's happening to get a better guess
from me.)

 

[Gregg]

Hi Dave. I enter in 799130, press return, and the numbers change to
12/9/4087. I do have a date in the cell directly above the cell in question.
I guess Excel is just formating all the numbers in this column to dates, but
I don't want that. How do I turn this formatting off? Thanks for your help.

 

[sidm via OfficeKB.com]

Hi Greg,
Select the cell or range of cells that you want to display as numbers, right
click and select Format Cell Options and select General or Number Option.
Hope that helps.

 

[Gord Dibben]

That is Excel helping you.

To turn off the automatic formatting go to Tools>Options>Edit.

Uncheck "extend data range formats and formulas"


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP