?Formatting cells?

[leonperrins]

I am running XP Pro+SP2 and Excel 2002.

Why do I get a number when I try to copy the date from the cell above into
my working line by hitting Ctrl + '.

 

[Gord Dibben]

The number is Excel's date storage number.

Format the cell as Date and the number will appear as a date.

See Chip Pearson's site for info on how Excel stores dates/times.

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/datetime.htm#SerialDates


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[JMay]

I believe the Ctrl+ ' or the Ctrl + D replicates **ONLY THE VALUE **
Of the Cell ABOVE, it does not include the formatting (of the above
source).

 

[leonperrins]

Right, thanks for that.
Now, I have copied the table into an Access database and the "Excel" numbers
have appeared not the dates.
Can I converts these numbers to dates in Access or what can I do to transfer
the dates themselves?

 

[David Biddulph]

=TEXT(A1,"dd/mm/yy") or whatever other format you want.

 

[leonperrins]

Sorry David,

I do not understand exactly what I should do.

 

[David Biddulph]

Insert a helper column.. In that column, include the formula I gave, with
the formula in row 1 pointing at cell A1 if your dates are in column A.
Copy the formula down your new column. When you are exporting to Access,
export the values from your new column, rather than the original dates.