WORKAROUND
Method 1: Convert Text to Columns
In Microsoft Excel versions 5.x, 7.0, and 97, the following steps convert
the data to correctly formatted dates as serialized date numbers.
- Highlight all dates. On the Data menu, click Text To Columns. This
opens dialog 1 of 3 of the Convert Text to Columns Wizard.
- In step 1, click Delimited for Original Data Type. Click Next.
- In step 2, click the Tab checkbox. Click Next.
- In step 3, click the Date option button. Click YMD in the list of date
formats. Your original data will be overwritten unless you enter a
new destination. (The default value is the first cell of the range that
you highlighted in step 1 above. Click Finish.
Method 2: Use a Formula
In any version of Microsoft Excel, to convert the date text to a serial
number, enter the following formula in the worksheet:
B2: =DATEVALUE(MID(A2,4,2)&"/"&RIGHT(A2,2)&"/"&LEFT(A2,2))
The above formula assumes that the date to be converted is in cell A2.
Method 3: Use a Macro
Microsoft Excel 4.0 Macro Example:
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The following macro converts the date, to a serial number. If the
separator between the yy mm and dd values is not a forward slash (/),
then modify the SEARCH statements within the macro, replacing all
occurrences of the forward slash with the appropriate character.
A1: Convert_Date
A2: =SEARCH("/",ACTIVE.CELL())
A3: year=MID(ACTIVE.CELL(),1,A2-1)
A4: =SEARCH("/",ACTIVE.CELL(),A2+1)
A5: month=MID(ACTIVE.CELL(),A2+1,A4-A2-1)
A6: day=MID(ACTIVE.CELL(),A4+1,2)
A7: =FORMULA(DATEVALUE(month&"/"&day&"/"&year))
A8: =SELECT("r[1]c")
A9: =IF(ACTIVE.CELL()<>"",GOTO(A2),RETURN())
The above macro assumes the following:
- All the dates are organized in one vertical column.
- The active cell is the first date to be converted in the column.
- There is an empty cell at the end of the column of dates.