Date to number (importing .epw meteorological data)

Rather than to try to fix this after the paste/import, I would look more carefully at the raw data before paste/import and try to understand why Excel is converting some to dates. I would not expect Excel to convert a simple decimal number to a date, so I expect there is something more in those data that are being converted to dates.

As a test, I searched for epw weather files and found energyplus.net that has a repository of weather data that can be downloaded in epw format (when opened in a text editor, it looks like a comma delimited text file). I copied and pasted into Excel, worked through the text to columns command, and did not see any of the temperatures converted to dates. Can you share a sample epw/text data file where Excel is converting to date, so we can explore why Excel might choose to convert some values to dates?

Thank you MrShorty,

your step seems logical. the data is below. I had to cut the site to pieces, the forum would not allow me post a link or file :/.
You cna download it from the address, under PM_PRAHA_PRAGUE followed by CZE_PM_Praha-Kbely.115670_TMYx.2003-2017.zip
The data is delimited with a comma, decimals with a decimal point. It does not convert any temperatures to dates, if they are below 1°C and exactly .0°C (logically, they do not make any date). The rest is all dates.
I tried ticking text instead of general in the folder options (page 3 during import). Did not help.

Thank you again

David

climate.onebuilding
.org/WMO_Region_6_Europe/
CZE_Czechia/index.html

If you import the file rather than open it, you can control the interpretation of fields.

What's your default date format?

I opened the .epw file in that zip folder and did not see any of the entries in column G (except G8) converted to dates. I suspect, like shg, something local to your computer/Excel installation (like a default date format setting) that is causing it to behave differently from mine. I also do not understand why clicking on "text" does not prevent Excel from recognizing those dates, because it should force the entire column (including the date in G8) to be imported as the exact text in the source file. I have no explanation for the behavior you describe and I cannot replicate the behavior you describe, so I have not solution to offer.