excel returns serial number instead of year: "1997"=35795

Excel returns a serial number instead of the year, resulting in logic error. I need to keep the logical about comparing YEAR as this formula will be part of a larger lookup formula.

In order to return TRUE, "1997" = stores_beg!$G$1.

Screen Shot 2019-09-07 at 9.54.27 AM.png

Although stores_beg!$G$1 does refers to 1997...

Screen Shot 2019-09-07 at 9.55.19 AM.png

... however, it evaluates to a serial number 35795.

Screen Shot 2019-09-07 at 9.53.58 AM.png

The following have not worked:

1. year()
2. custom number format
3. date number format

This was originally the header for a table. Does it matter if the date is the header of a table, or whether it's just a range?

A sample file is a attached.

Thank you!

Will you please attach a small sample Excel workbook? We are not able to work with or manipulate a picture of one and nobody wants to have to recreate your data from scratch.

1. Make sure that your sample data are REPRESENTATIVE of your real data. The use of unrepresentative data is very frustrating and can lead to long delays in reaching a solution.

2. Make sure that your desired results are also shown (mock up the results manually).

3. Make sure that all confidential data is removed or replaced with dummy data first (e.g. names, addresses, E-mails, etc.).

4. Try to avoid using merged cells as they cause lots of problems.

Unfortunately the attachment icon doesn't work at the moment (it hasn't worked for years, and despite our repeatedly asking the technical team who own the forum to fix it, they can't be bothered to do so), so to attach an Excel file you have to do the following: just before posting, scroll down to Go Advanced and then scroll down to Manage Attachments. Now follow the instructions at the top of that screen.

Please pay particular attention to point 2 (above): without an idea of your intended outcomes, it is often very difficult to offer appropriate advice.

Whilst waiting for your workbook, a reminder that dates ARE just serial numbers (starting on 01/01/1900).

Without a excel example i should say try this:

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In this example it works good

Maybe you can do it this way

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If that takes care of your original question, please select Thread Tools from the menu link above and mark this thread as SOLVED. Thanks.