Excel: Date Incorrect in Documents from Excel for Windows

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q32712

SUMMARY

The date systems used by Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh and Microsoft Excel for Windows are slightly different. Excel for Windows starts its dates at January 1, 1900; Excel for the Macintosh starts at January 1, 1904. The starting serial numbers also are different. A serial number of 0 in Excel for the Macintosh represents January 1, 1904; a serial number of 1 in Excel for Windows represents January 1, 1900.

To correct for this difference when transferring a file from Excel for Windows to Excel for the Macintosh, choose Calculation from the Options menu and select 1904 Date System in Excel for Windows before creating a document to be transferred to the Macintosh, or in Excel for the Macintosh version 3.00 or 2.20, choose Calculation from the Options menu and deselect 1904 Date System.

Another alternative is to use the following formula to subtract the serial number equivalent of four years from the Excel for Windows date after opening the worksheet in Excel for the Macintosh, where "cell reference" is the reference to the cell containing the Excel for Windows date: 

   =cell reference-1462

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Additional reference words: 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.50 2.20 3.00

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
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