I have a database with about 8 columns and maybe 100 rows or so, one of
the columns contains date as in yymmdd. The cellformat is text. Eg july
8, 2006 will be 060708.

I want to be able to show actual rows and also a subtotal above the
database for any month that I choose.

Let's say the database looks like this:

Item Date Value
A 060105 2
A 060203 4
B 060104 3

So if I want to see January I would get

Sbtotal for January 5

Item Date Value
A 060105 2
B 060104 3

For each year a new file will be made so January will always be only
this years January.

Is there a smooth way?

I already have an autofilter active and do have some macros and
subtotals up and running.

ps. Many thanks to Debra, Tom, Arnold, cpearson and all the others for
all the hilarious and most useful ideas you come up with and share. My
knowledge on macro and advanced excel is growing for each copy paste
that I do.

Cheers