Microsoft KB Archive/22766

Dates Displayed as Numbers PSS ID Number: Q22766 Article last modified on 07-22-1988 PSS database name: D_MPlan

3.00 3.01 3.02 3.04

MS-DOS

Question: How can I format the cells of my spreadsheet so that when I enter a number it will have a dollar format, but when I enter a date it will be displayed in the format I enter it in? Currently, if I format a cell to have the dollar format and then enter the date under Alpha as 5/19/87, the serial number 31916 is displayed in the cell in dollar format as $31916.00.

Response: For a date to appear on the screen in the format it is entered in, the cell must already be formatted for Def (default) under Format Cells Format Code:. If the cell is formatted for any of the other formats under Format Cells Format Code:, the date will be displayed as a number in whatever format the cell is currently formatted for. If the cell is formatted for Def and a date is entered under Alpha, Multiplan will display the date in the format used to enter it and will change the format of the cell to (-) under Format Cells Format Code:. If the cell is formatted for Def under Format Cells Format Code:, and a number is entered, the number will then be displayed in the format defined under Format Default Cells.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1988.