XL97: Macro to Change the Date/Time Format in a Header/Footer

ID: Q161607

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, when you use the date code, &[Date], to insert the date in the header or footer of a document, the date appears in the default "MM/DD/YY" format. The time code, &[Time], appears in the default "H:MM AM/PM" format. These date and time formats are based on the time settings on the Time tab of the Regional Settings Properties dialog box.

NOTE: You can find Regional Settings in the Control Panel.

To use a date or time format other than the default format, do either of the following:

Manually type the time or date in the header or footer.
```
    -or-
```
Use a Visual Basic for Applications macro to change the format.

This article contains a sample macro that places the current date in the header in the "MMM DD, YYYY" format.

MORE INFORMATION

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/

Visual Basic for Applications Macro Example

To create a macro that places the current date in the header in the "MMM DD, YYYY" format, use the following steps:

1. Save and close any open workbooks, and then create a new workbook.

2. Start the Visual Basic Editor (press ALT+F11).

3. On the Insert menu, click Module.

4. Type the following:

      Sub Change_Format()
          ActiveSheet.PageSetup.CenterHeader = Format(Now, "MMM DD, YYYY")
      End Sub

5. On the View menu, click Microsoft Excel (or press ALT+F11).

6. Select cell A1 on the active worksheet and type your name.

7. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.

8. In the Macro dialog box, click Change_Format and click Run.

9. On the File menu, click Print Preview and verify that the header

   contains the current date in the format you want.

For additional information about changing the date or time format in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q94870
   TITLE     : Excel: Changing the Date or Time Format in a Header or
               Footer

REFERENCES

For more information about Custom Formatting, click the Office Assistant, type "formatting number", click Search, and then click to view "Change the way Microsoft Excel displays numbers, dates, and times".

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Excel Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component

Additional query words: XL97

Keywords          : kbprg kbualink97 kbdta kbdtacode xlformat KbVBA xlprint 
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 28, 1999