Works: Dates Displayed as Text in Spreadsheet and Database (124292)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 2.0
  • Microsoft Works 2.0a
  • Microsoft Works 3.0
  • Microsoft Works 3.0a
  • Microsoft Works 3.0b
  • Microsoft Works 4.5
  • Microsoft Works 4.5a
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0 4.0a
This article was previously published under Q124292

SUMMARY

If you enter a date in an order different from the Date Format setting in the Windows Control Panel, Works will not recognize it as a valid date. As a result, Works will insert the date as a text string (that is, it will be displayed with a double quotation mark in front of the entry in the formula bar). These date entries may also appear as text strings when you import information from an ASCII text file that contains date entries with a format different from the setting in the Windows Control Panel.

MORE INFORMATION

The Control Panel Date Format setting determines the order of the day, month, and year when you enter a date. For example, an order setting of YMD would require that the date of September 18, 1993, be entered in Works as 93/9/18. If it is entered differently, Works will read it as a text string. To change the text strings back to dates, you must re-enter the dates, or use the procedure below to change the date order, and then remove the quotation marks.

NOTE: Works 2.0 does not have support for the Replace command in the spreadsheet or database module. For information on converting text strings back to dates (steps 6-7 below) in Works for Windows 2.0, query on the following article:

102421 Works: Converting Numbers Entered as Text into a Numeric Format

To have Works validate your date entries properly and convert text strings back to dates in Works for Windows, use the following steps, depending on your version of Windows:

  1. Windows 3.0:

    In the Windows Control Panel, click International.

    Windows 95:

    Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click Regional Settings.
  2. Windows 3.0:

    In the Date Format area, click Change.

    Windows 95:

    Click Date.
  3. Set the Short Date order or style to the order of the information in your document (the date information that is currently formatted as a text string), and then click OK.
  4. Windows 3.0: Click OK again to exit the International dialog box.
  5. Select the column (spreadsheet) or field (database list view) in your document that contains the information you want to format as a date.
  6. From the Edit menu, click Replace.
  7. In the Find What box, type a double quotation mark ("). Leave the Replace With box empty (or remove any information if any is present) and click Replace All.
  8. Follow steps 1-4 above to set the date to the format you desire.
NOTE: If the dates are still being interpreted as text strings, make sure that the numeric format for the field or cell is not set to Text.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/15/2004
Keywords:kbinfo KB124292
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