Unable to get a cell to convert 10/01/2005 to a date like Oct-05

[TMB]

When I format a cell for date -> Month-YR, and then type in a date such as
10/01/2005 or 10/05 or 10/01/05, etc. I can only get it to give me Jan-00.

The data in the cell is displayed as "=10/1/5" when I typed "10/01/05", and
it displays "Jan-00"

 

[George Nicholson]

The data in the cell is displayed as "=10/1/5"
With an equal sign, Excel will treat that entry as a formula: 10 divided by
1 divided by 5
Result: 2 which, when formated as a Date, is January 2, 1900

Don't enter the = sign when entering data and Excel will recognize it as a
Date. Be sure to enter all parts of the date: month, day and year. Even if
you only want to see part of that date displayed, Excel needs all of it, or
it will start making assumptions you don't want it to.

then type in a date such as ....10/05....

as stated above, don't leave out the day part or Excel will provide
undesired results

HTH,

 

[TMB]

I am unable to remove the "=" and I did not type it into the cell myself. The
"=" is automaticly appended to anything that I type into the cell. I have
verified that the cell is formated for Date, so I think that it should know
that I do not want it to perform a formula, but rather know that I want it to
display a date as I asked it to. Is this behavior something that can be
configured in the options of the document? It only happens in some of the
files.

 

[George Nicholson]

I am unable to remove the "=" and I did not type it into the cell myself.

Tools>Options>Transition
Uncheck "Transition Formula Entry". This is what is adding the = sign to
your date entries. Since your entries include /, Excel assumes it's a
formula. Formating simply isn't considered at this point.

I have
verified that the cell is formated for Date, so I think that it should
know
that I do not want it to perform a formula,

When an entry starts with =, Excel "knows" you want a formula. Any
formatting you have selected is then applied to the results of that formula,
not vice versa.

It only happens in some of the files.

You'll probably need to make the Tools>Options>Transition change in each of
the affected files.

HTH,