Cathy,
If you make a "Make Table Query" feeding from the
information in your table. Then delete the information in
the newly created table(leave the column headings) change
the data type from date to text in the design mode of the
table. Run an "Append Query" from the old table to the
new. Append queries keep the formating in the destination
tables the same the same. "Make Tables" delete the entire
table and repliciate everything...........Hope that helps.