Typing a date on my MACBook Pro results in date being displayed wrong eg 23m03m2014

[Neels_stols]

Shen typing a date in a field like 23/03/2014 for March 23, 2014 the Spreadsheet displays it as 23m03m2014 with the normal date format selection.
If I create a custom format like dd/mm/yyyy and use that to format field it display it like this but the display int he formula-bar or F2 edit still show-up as 23m03m2014

[popipipo]

Show us the file

[FDibbins]

Hi Neels and welcome to the forum

Are you sure its not all that good stuff you guys down in J-Bay smoke? lol just kidding, I grew up in PE and we always envied your waves.

Does the date come up like that in any other programs that accept a date? I dont use Mac, but see if there is anything in the OS setup that would cause the dates to show up like that?

[Neels_stols]

Sorry about the file being missing. But...... it's my first time to the forum.

[Neels_stols]

Hi Ford, Have been in PA the past week but (fortunately ) on my way back home and summer.
Have moved to MAC a month ago and learning the hard and difficult way. Have worked on Excel for ages on MS.
Keep well

[popipipo]

[$-436]dddd dd mmmm jjjj uu:mm

Try this celformat
[$-436] stands for africa.

[Neels_stols]

Hi Popipipo, It solved 50% of the problem as I now can format by using the specific Customising format. However the format in the "DATE" autoformat and also used in the spreadsheet is still including the M's. In other words when typing in a figure and wants to change the format from "Accounting" to "Date" Excell adds the 2 M into the number. Somehow the default date format is setup to include the m

[popipipo]

I don't see the 'M'
Take a look in the configuration menu of windows for time and date notations.

[Neels_stols]

Hi Guys, Thanks for help Something I did, worked. I fiddled with the SYSTEMs preferences DATE, Country and Language defaults and then EXCEL has steadied it self. Even the M's in the Customising drop-down-list have disappeared.
Problem resolved.

[FDibbins]

Pretty much what was suggested earlier
...I dont use Mac, but see if there is anything in the OS setup that would cause the dates to show up like that? ...
you'r welcome. If this answered your question, please take a moment to mark the thread as "solved" - it helps keep things neat and tidy lol, and consider adding the reputation to those that helped (see points 2 & 3 below my 1st post to you)