Microsoft KB Archive/65904

{| = Numbers Separated by a Slash Display Differently in Excel =
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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994

Article ID: Q65904

SUMMARY
When you enter two numbers separated by a slash (/) on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, Excel treats the entry differently, based on the numbers, and which version of Excel is being used.

If Alternate Navigation Keys is disabled in Version 3.00 of Excel, the different version of Excel treat the entries the same.

MORE INFORMATION
To illustrate this, consider what would happen if you input an entry X/Y. There are two categories; (A) X is greater than 12, (B) X is between 1 and 12.

(A) X is GREATER than 12:

In Excel 2.xx, the two numbers will be displayed as entered, and considered text.

In Excel 3.00, if Alternate Navigations Keys are enabled, the two numbers will be displayed as a fraction, and considered a number. If Alternate Navigations Keys are disabled, the entry will behave as in Excel 2.xx.

(B) X is a number BETWEEN 1 and 12: Excel tests for a possible date entry by looking at the Y entry.

IF X is between 1 and 12, and Y is as follows:

1. Inclusively between 1900 and 2078, the entry is treated as a month and year

2. A valid day for the month to which X translates (for       example, X=2=February - Valid Y entries are 1-28), the entry is treated as a month and day

3. Either 0 or a 2-digit number that is too large to be       a valid day for the month to which X translates, the entry is treated as a month and year (1900 + Y)

(THE ABOVE 3 POSSIBILITIES APPLY TO ALL VERSIONS OF EXCEL)

4. For Excel version 2.xx: Anything else, the entry is       treated exactly as it has been input.

For Excel version 3.00: If Alternate Navigation Keys are enabled, the entry will be entered as a fraction and considered a number. If Alternate Navigation Keys are disabled, the entry is treated as input.

Examples
The following are examples:

You Enter           Excel 2.xx Enters    In Formula Bar ---         -    --

2/20                  20-Feb              2/20/1990 5/80                  May-80              5/01/1980 13/90                 13/90               13/90 2/2079                 2/2079              2/2079

With Alternate Navigation Keys enabled You Enter           Excel 3.00 Enters    In Formula Bar ---         -    --

2/20                  20-Feb              2/20/1990 5/80                  May-80              5/01/1980 13/90                 0.14444             =13/90 2/2079                 0.00096             =2/2079
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