importing csv files, problem with date formats

I have a problem with how excel treats dates that are imported as a csv
file.

For some reason, excel occasionally transposes dates from dd/mm format to
mm/dd format.

I know that the problem isn't with the format of the cells but I think it is
the way that the exporting program recognises dates.

It may be that the problem is due to the fact that week numbers less than 12
could be interpreted as a month or a week. ( the problem does not occur on
dates that fall in week 13 or greater).

Does any one know of an easy way of solving the problem or converting the
dates ?


any help greatly appreciated


Pete

Change the file extension of the file from .csv to .txt. This will make the
Import Wizard come up when you import the file. You can then format the data
any way you wish.
HTH,
--
Gary Brown
gary_brown@ge_NOSPAM.com
If this post was helpful, please click the ''Yes'' button next to ''Was this
Post Helpfull to you?''.


"jiwolf" wrote:

> I have a problem with how excel treats dates that are imported as a csv
> file.
>
> For some reason, excel occasionally transposes dates from dd/mm format to
> mm/dd format.
>
> I know that the problem isn't with the format of the cells but I think it is
> the way that the exporting program recognises dates.
>
> It may be that the problem is due to the fact that week numbers less than 12
> could be interpreted as a month or a week. ( the problem does not occur on
> dates that fall in week 13 or greater).
>
> Does any one know of an easy way of solving the problem or converting the
> dates ?
>
>
> any help greatly appreciated
>
>
> Pete
>
>
>
>
>

I appreciate the prompt reply, but the problem is that the program that
generates the data only exports as a csv




"Gary L Brown" <gary_brown@ge_NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:A3AD1C80-F097-4487-944C-87EE2549361D@microsoft.com...
> Change the file extension of the file from .csv to .txt. This will make
> the
> Import Wizard come up when you import the file. You can then format the
> data
> any way you wish.
> HTH,
> --
> Gary Brown
> gary_brown@ge_NOSPAM.com
> If this post was helpful, please click the ''Yes'' button next to ''Was
> this
> Post Helpfull to you?''.
>
>
> "jiwolf" wrote:
>
>> I have a problem with how excel treats dates that are imported as a csv
>> file.
>>
>> For some reason, excel occasionally transposes dates from dd/mm format to
>> mm/dd format.
>>
>> I know that the problem isn't with the format of the cells but I think it
>> is
>> the way that the exporting program recognises dates.
>>
>> It may be that the problem is due to the fact that week numbers less than
>> 12
>> could be interpreted as a month or a week. ( the problem does not occur
>> on
>> dates that fall in week 13 or greater).
>>
>> Does any one know of an easy way of solving the problem or converting the
>> dates ?
>>
>>
>> any help greatly appreciated
>>
>>
>> Pete
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

Understood.
After the program exports, using Windows Explorer, go to where the file was
exproted to, highlight it, hit F2 to edit the name and change the extension
to .txt from .csv.
HTH,
--
Gary Brown
gary_brown@ge_NOSPAM.com
If this post was helpful, please click the ''Yes'' button next to ''Was this
Post Helpfull to you?''.


"jiwolf" wrote:

> I appreciate the prompt reply, but the problem is that the program that
> generates the data only exports as a csv
>
>
>
>
> "Gary L Brown" <gary_brown@ge_NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
> news:A3AD1C80-F097-4487-944C-87EE2549361D@microsoft.com...
> > Change the file extension of the file from .csv to .txt. This will make
> > the
> > Import Wizard come up when you import the file. You can then format the
> > data
> > any way you wish.
> > HTH,
> > --
> > Gary Brown
> > gary_brown@ge_NOSPAM.com
> > If this post was helpful, please click the ''Yes'' button next to ''Was
> > this
> > Post Helpfull to you?''.
> >
> >
> > "jiwolf" wrote:
> >
> >> I have a problem with how excel treats dates that are imported as a csv
> >> file.
> >>
> >> For some reason, excel occasionally transposes dates from dd/mm format to
> >> mm/dd format.
> >>
> >> I know that the problem isn't with the format of the cells but I think it
> >> is
> >> the way that the exporting program recognises dates.
> >>
> >> It may be that the problem is due to the fact that week numbers less than
> >> 12
> >> could be interpreted as a month or a week. ( the problem does not occur
> >> on
> >> dates that fall in week 13 or greater).
> >>
> >> Does any one know of an easy way of solving the problem or converting the
> >> dates ?
> >>
> >>
> >> any help greatly appreciated
> >>
> >>
> >> Pete
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

"jiwolf" wrote:

> I have a problem with how excel treats dates that are imported as a csv
> file.
>
> For some reason, excel occasionally transposes dates from dd/mm format to
> mm/dd format.
>
> I know that the problem isn't with the format of the cells but I think it is
> the way that the exporting program recognises dates.
>
> It may be that the problem is due to the fact that week numbers less than 12
> could be interpreted as a month or a week. ( the problem does not occur on
> dates that fall in week 13 or greater).
>
> Does any one know of an easy way of solving the problem or converting the
> dates ?
>
>
> any help greatly appreciated
>
>
> Pete
>
>
>
>
>

1. Select your spreadsheet - then select Format CELLS - TEXT.
2. In EXCEL the CSV file you want to import into Excel.
Then on STEP 3 of the import menu - select all of the columns indicate import as TEXT. Then you can format the date the way you want.
You might just try importing the file and format your date field only in Step 3 of the Import Menu Program, (i.e. you might not have to change the cells to "TEXT" prior to importing).