Microsoft Excel is a robust data analysis and organising application that can alter date values as one of its core features. Many people struggle with Excel’s default date formatting and find themselves in a bind when the need arises to customize it according to their preferences or specific project requirements. However, changing the date format in Excel is much simpler than it appears. Excel Training can also help you learn all these skills in Excel that can make you much more efficient. In this blog, you will learn How to Change Date Format in Excel, allowing you to present your data in a more meaningful and visually appealing manner.
Table of content
- Changing the Date Format in Excel
- Select the Cells with Date Values
- Open the Format Cells Dialog Box
- Choose the Desired Date Format
- Select the Date Format
- Use of Date format
- Another format
- Conclusion
Changing the Date Format in Excel
These are the steps to change the date format in Excel.
1. Select the Cells with Date Values
To begin, open an Excel spreadsheet and select the cells containing the date data you want to format. You can choose between a single cell and a group of cells.
2. Open the Format Cells Dialog Box
Then, on the Excel ribbon, pick the “Home” tab and then the “Number Format” drop-down arrow in the “Number” group. To launch the “Format Cells” dialogue box, select “More Number Formats” from the drop-down menu. This dialogue box provides you with several formatting options to choose from.
3. Choose the Desired Date Format
Navigate to the “Number” tab in the “Format Cells” dialogue box if it is not already selected. Select “Date” from the list of categories on the left to display several date format options in the right-hand panel. Excel contains several built-in date formats, including “14-Mar-2019” and “03/14/19”.
4. Select the Date Format
From the list, select the appropriate date format. Excel has a number of pre-defined formats, such as “14-Mar-2019” or “03/14/19”. Change the format by selecting “Custom” and entering the desired format in the “Type” column.
5. Use the Date Format
Once you’ve decided on a date format, use the “OK” button to apply it to the cells you’ve chosen. The date values will be instantly shown in the new format, but the underlying date values will remain unaltered.
6. Another format
Use the “Format Painter” tool to duplicate the date format to many cells. Simply pick the prepared cell, then in the “Clipboard” group, click the “Format Painter” button and drag over the cells you wish to format.
Select the cells and then the “General” format from the “Number Format” drop-down box to return to the default date format. This removes any changed date formatting and returns the date data to its original format.
Conclusion
The ability to modify the date format in Excel is a vital skill that will help you to present and analyse data. You may quickly change the date format in Excel to suit your needs by following the easy steps indicated in this blog article. Controlling the date format enables you to display information in a clear and simple manner, whether you’re working with financial data, project schedules, or any other sort of date-based data. Excel’s date formatting versatility makes it a valuable tool for professionals in various disciplines. Experiment with different date formats in Excel to enhance your data analysis and presentation abilities!