Convert Text String to Date Format

IntermediateText Manipulation

My dates are not recognized by Excel. They are just text strings.

The Formula

=DATEVALUE(SUBSTITUTE(A1, ".", "/"))

How It Works

1

First, SUBSTITUTE changes dots to slashes so Excel recognizes the format.

2

DATEVALUE converts that string into a proper Excel serial date number.

💡 Pro Tips

  • • Test the formula with sample data before applying to your entire dataset
  • • Use absolute references ($A$1) when copying formulas to prevent reference errors
  • • Consider error handling with IFERROR() for more robust formulas
  • • Document your formulas with comments for future reference

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Formula Details

Difficulty:Intermediate
Category:Text Manipulation
Steps:2