Excel DATEDVALUE function

Normally, when you import some data in Excel worksheet from other applications, such as PDF, TXT file, the date will be stored as text format. In this case, the DATEVALUE function can help you to convert date that stored as text format to a serial number which Excel can recognize as a date, and then format the number to proper date format.

 Syntax:

The syntax for the DATEVALUE function in Excel is:

 Arguments:

• Date_text: A date stored as a text string.

 Return:

Return a serial number based on a specific date in Excel.

 Usage:

To convert the text string date format to a real date format, please apply this formula:

Then, five-digit numbers will be displayed, and then, you should format these serial numbers as normal date format by choosing Short Date option from the Number Format drop down list under the Home tab, see screenshot:

Note: If there are date and time text string in the cells, you should apply the VALUE function to deal with it. Please enter this formula:

And then, go to the Format Cells dialog box to specify a date time format to convert the serial numbers to datetime format as following screenshot shown:

Note: In the above formulas, B2 is the cell contains the date text string you want to convert.

Tips: You can also replace the cell reference in the above formulas with the date text string, such as: