auto row format general/date to text. Is there a function?

Hi all,
I'm very very new to programming concepts so bare with me.

I have a column of dates(100+ sometimes). I make a copy of the column so I know what the dates are.
Then, I select the entire column, right-click and go to format cells. Then I convert the entire column to text format. Some of the dates gets converted to datevalue number. I go back and manually type in the dates from the original copy(cell by cell). This is very tedious/time consuming and plain ol boring.

Couple of points to consider is:
I need is the row has to be in text format.
I can't use "custom format" for the cell like dd-mm-yyyy
I can't change the regional settings to UK in control panel.
I can't have slashes eg. dd/mm/yyyy it won't work
The dates should display as dd-mm-yyyy again in text format.

It's a peculiar situation since i'm transfering this file to another program and that programs accepts this crazy format.

Is there a way to automate this process??

Thanks much...

Hi Mitul

Converting dates to text has always given me problems. This is a convoluted method I've used in the past. I'm certain there's a more direct approach but I've not figured it out.

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Hope this helps.

John

Another way would be to leave your cells as custom-formatted dates until you're ready to publish, then select the range of interest and run this:

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Thanks for all the help.. I thought it would as easy as simple formulas and functions that you can just drag down. But the hole goes even deeper lol...

The code does work and that gives me hope. I have much reading to do. Thank you again.

-Mitul