Solved: date format question

[vzachin]

hi

this is a non-VBA question. I'm using Excel 2003; when i input a date into a cell, e.g. 1/21, the cell automatically changes to 21-Jan after i tab into another cell.
when i look at Format-->Cells--> it shows Custom-->d-mmmm.

is there a way to change the default to show mm/dd/yy?

i don't want to format the cells everytime i open a new sheet or workbook.

thanks
zach

[Kenneth Hobs]

It is a common question with no solution that I have seen. Of course you can use a macro to reset the formats at each change to the date format or for a one time run for some range.

[vzachin]

hi Kenneth, i didn't think there was any solution. i did play around with styles but it only works for the current workbook

thanks again
zach

[Kenneth Hobs]

One can modify the Normal style but then General is not used and numbers become date formatted. You would think that there would be an option but searching has not found one. I guess at one point, Excel has to decide just how much they will allow changes.

[vzachin]

kenneth, thanks for looking at this