understanding dash dash in a excel formula

I have come across a function I do not understand.
1.
Input
Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM

Formula
=(--RIGHT(B2,LEN(B2) - (FIND(",",B2)+1)))

Result (this is the result I wanted)
10/27/05 8:59 AM

2.
Input
Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM

Formula
=(RIGHT(B3,LEN(B3) - (FIND(",",B3)+1)))

Result ( this is not the result i wanted)
October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM

Why does putting "--" before "RIGHT" give me the desired result?

See http://www.xldynamic.com/source/xld....CT.html#format

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(remove nothere from email address if mailing direct)

"ldebner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have come across a function I do not understand.
> 1.
> Input
> Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM
>
> Formula
> =(--RIGHT(B2,LEN(B2) - (FIND(",",B2)+1)))
>
> Result (this is the result I wanted)
> 10/27/05 8:59 AM
>
> 2.
> Input
> Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM
>
> Formula
> =(RIGHT(B3,LEN(B3) - (FIND(",",B3)+1)))
>
> Result ( this is not the result i wanted)
> October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM
>
> Why does putting "--" before "RIGHT" give me the desired result?
>
>
>

The double dash is just a way to convert string to number. The differences
you see may be just formatting. the value should be:

38652.3744097222

to account for the 9 seconds.

--
Gary''s Student


"ldebner" wrote:

> I have come across a function I do not understand.
> 1.
> Input
> Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM
>
> Formula
> =(--RIGHT(B2,LEN(B2) - (FIND(",",B2)+1)))
>
> Result (this is the result I wanted)
> 10/27/05 8:59 AM
>
> 2.
> Input
> Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM
>
> Formula
> =(RIGHT(B3,LEN(B3) - (FIND(",",B3)+1)))
>
> Result ( this is not the result i wanted)
> October 27, 2005 8:59:09 AM
>
> Why does putting "--" before "RIGHT" give me the desired result?
>
>
>