How do I generate random numbers using dates in excel?

[celia w]

I want to generate a sample of random dates using Excel 2000.

 

[N Harkawat]

=DATE(2005,1,1)+IF(RAND()>0.5,RAND()*-1000,RAND()*1000)
will generate random dates 1000 days plus and 1000 days minus 1/1/2005

Ofcourse format it as date