XL97: Variant Array of Dates Transfers to Worksheet Incorrectly

ID: Q178194

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro (Sub procedure) to transfer an array of dates to a worksheet, the day and month may be transposed.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when the following conditions are true:

The Short date style, set on the Date tab of the Regional Settings in Control Panel, is set to dd-MMM-yy.
```
    -and-
```
You stored a date in a variant array.
```
    -and-
```
You placed the array in a worksheet.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

You can avoid this problem by using the CLng function to convert the date to a long integer before placing it into a worksheet, as the following sample macro demonstrates:

   Sub EnterDate()

      Dim vDate() As Variant
      ReDim vDate(1) As Variant

      vDate(0) = DateSerial(1997, 1, 12)   ' This is January 12, 1997
      vDate(1) = DateSerial(1997, 10, 1)   ' This is October 1, 1997

      ' Loop through each element of the array vDate.
      For i = LBound(vDate) To UBound(vDate)
         ' The CLng function is used below to convert the date to long.
         vDate(i) = CLng(vDate(i))
      Next i

      ' Place the array contents into cells A1:B1.
      Range("A1:B1").Value = vDate

      ' Change the cell format so the date is easier to read.
      Range("A1:B1").NumberFormat = "mmmm d, yyyy"

   End Sub

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

To determine what the Short date style is for your computer, follow these steps:

1. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. In Control Panel, double-click the Regional Settings icon, and then

   click the Date tab.

When you use English (United Kingdom) as your Regional Setting, dd/mm/yy is the default Short date format.

REFERENCES

For more information about arrays, click the Office Assistant, type "array", click Search, and then click to view "Using Arrays".

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Additional query words: XL97 vba

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999