5 Ways Change Excel Date Format

Introduction to Excel Date Formats

When working with dates in Excel, it’s essential to understand how to change the date format to suit your needs. Excel provides various date formats, and knowing how to apply them can make a significant difference in your data analysis and presentation. In this article, we will explore five ways to change the Excel date format and provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to work with dates in Excel.

Understanding Excel Date Formats

Before we dive into the methods of changing the date format, it’s crucial to understand how Excel stores dates. Excel stores dates as serial numbers, starting from January 1, 1900, which is assigned the serial number 1. This means that every date is represented by a unique serial number, making it easy to perform calculations and comparisons. To change the date format, you need to apply a format mask to the cell or range of cells containing the dates.

Method 1: Using the Number Group

The first method to change the Excel date format is by using the Number group in the Home tab. To do this: * Select the cell or range of cells containing the dates * Go to the Home tab in the Excel ribbon * Click on the Number group and select Short Date or Long Date from the drop-down menu * Alternatively, you can also use the Custom option to create your own date format

Method 2: Using the Format Cells Dialog Box

The second method is by using the Format Cells dialog box. To access this dialog box: * Select the cell or range of cells containing the dates * Right-click on the selection and choose Format Cells * In the Format Cells dialog box, select the Number tab and choose Date from the category list * Select the desired date format from the Type list and click OK

Method 3: Using the Text to Columns Feature

The third method is by using the Text to Columns feature. This method is useful when you have a column of text dates that you want to convert to a standard date format. To use this feature: * Select the column of text dates * Go to the Data tab in the Excel ribbon * Click on the Text to Columns button and select Delimited Text * Follow the wizard to convert the text dates to a standard date format

Method 4: Using the DATE Function

The fourth method is by using the DATE function. This function allows you to create a date value from a year, month, and day. To use this function: * Select the cell where you want to display the date * Type =DATE(year, month, day) and press Enter * Replace year, month, and day with the actual values or references to the cells containing the values

Method 5: Using VBA Macro

The fifth method is by using a VBA macro. This method is useful when you need to automate the process of changing the date format. To create a VBA macro: * Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor * In the Visual Basic Editor, insert a new module by clicking Insert > Module * Write the VBA code to change the date format and click Run

Date Format	Description
mm/dd/yyyy	Displays the date in the format month/day/year
dd-mmm-yyyy	Displays the date in the format day-month-year
yyyy-mm-dd	Displays the date in the format year-month-day

📝 Note: When working with dates in Excel, it's essential to ensure that the dates are in a standard format to avoid errors in calculations and data analysis.

To summarize, changing the Excel date format is a straightforward process that can be achieved using various methods. By understanding how to apply different date formats, you can enhance your data analysis and presentation skills. Whether you’re using the Number group, Format Cells dialog box, Text to Columns feature, DATE function, or VBA macro, you can easily change the date format to suit your needs.