Microsoft KB Archive/282365

= ACC2002: Import Spreadsheet Wizard Does Not Preserve Long or Medium Date Formats =

Article ID: 282365

Article Last Modified on 11/6/2003

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 2002 Standard Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q282365



Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

This article applies only to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).



SYMPTOMS
When you import data from an Excel spreadsheet into an Access database, dates in long date format, such as January 1, 2000; or medium date format, such as 1-Jan-2000, lose formatting and are displayed as short dates, such as 01-01-2000.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, reformat the date fields after you have imported the data. To dot his, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open the table in Design View.
 * 2) Click the date field you want to format.
 * 3) Change the Format property to either Medium Date or Long Date.
 * 4) Save the table. On the View menu, click Datasheet View.

The date field now displays the new formatting that you selected.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.



Steps to Reproduce Behavior

 * 1) Start Microsoft Excel and create a new workbook.
 * 2) In cell A1, enter 1-Jan-00.
 * 3) Save the file as TestDate and quit Excel.
 * 4) Start Microsoft Access and create a new database.
 * 5) On the File menu, point to Get External Data and click Import.
 * 6) Navigate to the TestDate file created in step 3 and click Import.
 * 7) In the Import Spreadsheet Wizard, click Finish.
 * 8) Open the newly created Sheet1.

The date is displayed as 1/1/2000.

