Can't copy dates correctly from one spreadsheet to another

boringpie

New Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
16
This is completely bizarre, and not sure why. I am trying to copy data from one spreadsheet to another containing dates in dates format.

However, once copied to the new sheet, the year is exactly four years earlier than the original. eg. 29-Nov-09 (original sheet) -> 29-Nov-05 (new sheet). I have tried many things, copy/paste value, copy/paste all, open new spreadsheets many time, and saving files in various xls formats. Still no luck.

Then I tried entering the number 1, into the original spreadsheet and format as date. Surprisingly, the date is 2-jan-1904, but in a normal spreadsheet, number 1 would be 1-jan-1900. Very weird.

Anyone know what the problem is? And how can I copy the dates correctly over to a new sheets? Thanks.
 

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Ahh the dreaded macintosh date system!!!!!

I'm not a complete expert, but if you decompose the dates into three columns, Day month year, then copy that set of three columns across between sheets, then rebuild the dates, you can get around this problem.

You will need to use DAY(), MONTH(), YEAR() and DATE() to do this. But remember to copy as values when you change sheets.

If you need to do this repeatedly you'll need to look into your options and try to figure out which date setting you are using.... Of course, how to do this varies by which type of Excel you are running.
 
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Looks like this will be an ongoing problem for me then. I receive the automated bank statement everyday, and the original file is protected so can't put any of the formula in there. I will need to copy and pates into mine then +4 years to every date entry. Sigh.... why Mac...

I am using Excel 2003 here
 
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