Workaround for the "TIME BUG" In Microsoft Excel

Question

Workaround for the "TIME BUG" In Microsoft Excel

Answer

This question was answered on June 15, 1999. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

In Microsoft Excel, entering a time with more than 60 minutes into a cell may change the cell over to the General number format and give you a decimal number.

If you type: 5:62, the cell will pop up with 0.251389. Try entering THAT into your date book! These versions of Excel are affected: Excel 97 for Windows; Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0 and 7.0a; Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0a and 5.0c.

Microsoft's workaround: Change the cell to the Time number format by highlighting the cell, going to Format, Cells, Number, and clicking Time in the Category list. Then hit the time format you want in the Type list, and choose OK

Author

Posted by Ken of Data Doctors on June 15, 1999