Avoiding Date format (Excel 2003)

[Torquemada]

I am copying a date along with other info into excel. The date is MAR-02, for instance, yet Excel insists on making it 3/2/2006. I'm trying to find a way to force it but cannot. Even Paste Special Text doesn't keep the format. How can I get the data back to what it should be? Thanks.

[LegareColeman]

Select the cell. Then select Cells from the Format menu. Click on Date in the Category list. Click on Mar-98 (may be different in XL 2003, I use KL2K) in the Type list. Click OK.

[Torquemada]

But my MAY-02 gets pasted in as 38839 and comes out as May-06 the cformula bar showing 5/2/2006.

[sdckapr]

You can format to mmm-dd with format - cells - custom

to get the onth and day instead of month and year.

Steve