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DATE
Returns the sequential serial number that represents a particular date.
Syntax
DATE(year,month,day)
Year The year argument can be one to four digits.
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If year is between 0 (zero) and 1899 (inclusive), the value is added to 1900 to calculate the year. For example,
DATE(108,1,2)returns January 2, 2008 (1900+108). -
If year is between 1900 and 9999 (inclusive), the value is used as the year. For example,
DATE(2008,1,2)returns January 2, 2008.
Month is a number representing the month of the year. If month is greater than 12, month adds that number of months to the first month in the year specified. For example, DATE(2008,14,2) returns the serial number representing February 2,
2009.
Day is a number representing the day of the month. If day is greater than the number of days in the month specified, day adds that number of days to the first day in the
month. For example, DATE(2008,1,35) returns the serial number representing February 4,
2008.
Remarks
- Dates are stored as sequential serial numbers so they can be used in calculations. By default, December 31, 1899 is serial number 1, and January 1, 2008 is serial number 39448 because it is 39,448 days after January 1, 1900.
- The DATE function is most useful in formulas where year, month, and day are formulas, not constants.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank spreadsheet.
How?
- Create a blank spreadsheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.
| Year | Month | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 1 |
| Formula | Description (Result) | |
| =DATE(A2,B2,C2) | Serial date for the date above (1/1/2008 or 39448) |
Note If you want to change the display of the result from
a serial number to a date format or vice versa, select the cell and click Commands
and Options 
on the
toolbar.
Click the Format tab and then select the format you want in the Number
Format box. To view the date as a serial number, apply the General
number format.