date values change when I copy an excel sheet to a new book

M

man818

When I copy a spreadsheet to another workbook, the data values all change by
4 years backward.
 
D

Dave Peterson

One workbook was using a base year of 1900 and the other was using 1904.
(tools|options|calculation tab|1904 date system)

One way to add those four years back is to find an empty cell, put 1462 into
that cell.

Copy that cell.

Select your range that contains the dates. Edit|PasteSpecial|click Add (in the
operation box).

You may have to reformat the cell as a date (mine turned to a 5 digit number).
But it should work.

You may want to do it against a copy...just in case.

(I'm not sure which one you'll fix. You may want to edit|pastespecial|click
subtract.)

Most windows users use 1900 as the base date. Mac users (mostly??) use 1904 as
the base date.
 
J

Jerry W. Lewis

Tools|Options|Calculation The source workbook has "904 Date System" checked,
and the receiving workbook doesn't. Excel stores dates as the number of days
since a particular reference date. This option defines the reference date.
Both workbooks must be prepared to interprete the number of days in the same
way unless you are prepared to do some intermediate translation.

Jerry
 
T

Toppers

Tools==>Options=>Calculations=>1904 Date System (Check/uncheck as required)

Suggests source has 1904 Date System checked and target is unchecked.

HTH
 
M

man818

Thank you so much - you are absolutely correct - all fixed after hours of
frustration.

I owe you one.

Manning Stoller
 
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