Changing an Integer into an Excel Serial Number

ID: Q60066

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2, 2.21, and 3.0

SUMMARY

Many programs export dates as integers. The following macro transforms an integer date into an Excel serial number. This assumes the integer date is in the active cell of the worksheet in the form 900221 (year|month|day):


   A1: =ACTIVE.CELL()
   A2: =TRUNC(A1*0.0001)             ; Extracts first two digits
   A3: =TRUNC((A1-(A2*10000))*0.01)  ; Extracts second two digits
   A4: =A1-(TRUNC(A1*0.01)*100)      ; Extracts last two digits
   A5: =DATE(A2,A3,A4)               ; Converts to serial number
   A6: =FORMULA(A5)                  ; Puts serial number in active cell
   A7: =RETURN()

The macro can be adapted for other integer date formats by changing the references in the DATE function.

Note: this information applies to version 5.0 when you use Microsoft Excel version 4.0 macro language.

Additional query words: 2.0 2.00 2.01 2.1 2.10 2.2 2.20 2.21 3.0 4.0 4.0a 4.00a 5.0


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Last Reviewed: March 16, 1999