Microsoft Excel Functions & Formulas

Use the DATEVALUE function to recalculate

dates formatted as text

Figure 4-10 shows start and end dates in columns A and B. Excel

cannot interpret the columns as dates because they are formatted

as text. To convert and calculate these types of dates, use the

DATEVALUE function. This function returns the serial number of

the date represented by the “text date.”

Let’s determine the difference between start and end dates.

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To calculate the difference between text dates:

1. Select cells C2:C10.

2. Type the following formula:

=DATEVALUE(B2)-DATEVALUE(A2).

3. Press <Ctrl+Enter>.

Date and Time Functions 101

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Figure 4-10