Linking a range of cells - date formatting issues

[StephTron]

Excel 2007

I am trying to link a range of cells from one sheet that contain various dates to another sheet in the same workbook. Some of the cells are empty.

I select the source cells (say, F8-F19), copy, select target worksheet, Paste Special (and select Paste Link button).

Target cells display accurate date information that updates as source cells are changed, however, any source cells that were blank now read 1-Jan-04.

I have checked to ensure that all source/target cells have the same formatting (Number-Date).

When trying to Paste Special values and/or number formats only, the option to Paste Link is no longer available.

How can I link the cells so that blank source cells result in blank target cells?

Issue seems similar to:

http://www.excelforum.com/excel-gene...worksheet.html

[StephTron]

An example file attached. In the example, default posted date is 0-Jan-00

[DonkeyOte]

When you link to a blank cell XL will see the blank as 0 ... there are a few options... the most obvious is to setup a Format on the linked range of say:

[=0]"";d-mmm-yy

any cells holding a value of 0 will appear blank, else date format is returned (in XL dates are integers)

[StephTron]

Problem Solved.

Creating the custom format worked great.

Thank you.