Microsoft KB Archive/213901

= XL: General Number Format Applied to Improper Time Entry =

Article ID: 213901

Article Last Modified on 1/24/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95a

-



This article was previously published under Q213901





SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you enter a time into a cell, the cell may change to the General number format, and display a decimal number.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs when you enter an improper time value, where the minutes are greater than or equal to 60. For example if you type 5:62, the cell displays "0.251389"



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, change the cell to the Time number format:
 * 1) Click to select the cell.
 * 2) On the Format menu, click Cells.
 * 3) On the Number tab, click Time in the Category list, and then click the time format you want in the Type list. Click OK.



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

