Date Format is Changing

[John]

I am trying to set a Date Format of DD/MM/YY in a particular cell. Problem
is that when a user types in 18.05.2004 it then displays the result as
18.05.2004 - I want it to show 18/05/2004. How can I do this, it seems
stupidly easy but I can't do it. When I look at the format of the cell it
has changed from my 'Custom' selection to that of 'Date' with 18/05/2004 -
but it still shows it as 18.05.2004.

Must users input with a " / " ?

Thanks

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
Excel does not recognize your entry as date in this case
but as 'Text'. Therefore changing the format does not
change anything

 

[Harald Staff]

Hi

Strange. If you preformat the cell, using Format > Cells, to custom format
"dd/mm/yyyy" then it should display this date format no matter how the date
is entered; 18.5 , 18.may 04 , whatever. It does here. Excel accepts all
common date entries.

But there are huge differences in regional settings when it comes to dates,
perhaps you have met a local limitation of some sort.

Best wishes Harald

 

[John]

Is there anything I can do to force a particular date, with free text input?