I get a CSV file from a system as part of a process where I compare the contents of the file to user accounts in active directory. The first column of the CSV file contains a user account name that will be of the format abc1234, that is, 3 characters followed by 4 integers (actually the first 3 letters of users last name plus the last 4 digits of their SSN). The problem I am having is when I import that column into my worksheet that does the processing, any account name that begins with 3 letters that represent a month abbreviation automatically get converted to a date format.

For example, the account name may1932 is being displayed as "May-32" in the cell and shows up as "5/1/1932" in the formula bar.

mar2077 shows up as "Mar-77", etc, etc......

I have tried inserting an apostrophe at the front of the string but then it displays as a text version of the Excel serialized date number. Have also tried all cell formats I am aware of.

Does anyone know a way to foce the format to be abc1234? I'm thinking the formatting issue willl need to be addressed at the point where the original CSV file is being created?????

Thanks...
J