Time information in the date_text argument is ignored.Įxcel stores dates as sequential serial numbers so that they can be used in calculations. If the year portion of the date_text argument is omitted, the DATEVALUE function uses the current year from your computer's built-in clock. The DATEVALUE function returns the #VALUE! error value if the value of the date_text argument falls outside of this range. Using the default date system in Microsoft Excel for Windows, the date_text argument must represent a date between Januand December 31, 9999. For example, '' or '3' are text strings within quotation marks that represent dates. Text that represents a date in an Excel date format, or a reference to a cell that contains text that represents a date in an Excel date format. The DATEVALUE function syntax has the following arguments:ĭate_text Required. Find links to more information about displaying numbers as dates in the See Also section. To view a date serial number as a date, you must apply a date format to the cell. The DATEVALUE function is helpful in cases where a worksheet contains dates in a text format that you want to filter, sort, or format as dates, or use in date calculations. Remember, though, that your computer's system date setting may cause the results of a DATEVALUE function to vary from this example For example, the formula =DATEVALUE('') returns 39448, the serial number of the date. The DATEVALUE function converts a date that is stored as text to a serial number that Excel recognizes as a date. This article describes the formula syntax and usage of the DATEVALUE function in Microsoft Excel. Excel for Microsoft 365 Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac Excel for the web Excel 2021 Excel 2021 for Mac Excel 2019 Excel 2019 for Mac Excel 2016 Excel 2016 for Mac Excel 2013 Excel 2010 Excel 2007 Excel for Mac 2011 Excel Starter 2010 More.

Convert serial number to date