Working with dates in Google Sheets is essential for tasks like tracking deadlines, analyzing trends, and managing schedules. Sometimes, you might need to adjust the date format or change the date itself within a cell. Understanding how to modify dates in Google Sheets can significantly streamline your workflow and improve the accuracy of your data.
Overview
This guide will walk you through the various methods for changing dates in Google Sheets. We’ll cover:
Formatting Dates
Learn how to change the way dates are displayed in your spreadsheet, such as switching between month/day/year and day/month/year formats.
Manually Changing Dates
Discover how to directly edit the date within a cell, allowing you to update specific days, months, or years.
Using Formulas to Manipulate Dates
Explore powerful formulas that can help you add or subtract days, months, or years from existing dates, enabling you to perform complex date calculations.
How to Change Date in Google Sheets
Google Sheets is a powerful tool for managing and manipulating data, and dates are no exception. Whether you need to adjust a single date, format a whole column, or convert text to a date, Google Sheets offers a variety of methods to help you. This article will guide you through the different ways to change dates in Google Sheets.
Changing a Single Date
To change a single date in Google Sheets, you can directly edit the cell containing the date. Google Sheets will automatically recognize the date format and allow you to modify it. (See Also: How To Export Google Sheets)
Using the Date Picker
1. Select the cell containing the date you want to change.
2. Click on the small calendar icon that appears in the formula bar.
3. Use the calendar interface to select the new date.
4. Press Enter to confirm the change.
Manually Entering a New Date
1. Select the cell containing the date you want to change.
2. Type the new date in the desired format (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY or DD-MMM-YYYY).
3. Press Enter to confirm the change.
Formatting Dates
Google Sheets offers various date formatting options to customize the appearance of dates in your spreadsheet. You can choose from a wide range of pre-defined formats or create your own custom format.
Using Pre-defined Formats
1. Select the cells containing the dates you want to format.
2. Click on the “Format” menu and choose “Number.”
3. Select the desired date format from the “Category” dropdown menu.
4. Click “OK” to apply the format.
Creating a Custom Format
1. Select the cells containing the dates you want to format.
2. Click on the “Format” menu and choose “Number.”
3. Select “Custom number format” from the “Category” dropdown menu.
4. In the “Type” field, enter the desired date format using the following codes:
- M: Month (e.g., 1, Jan)
- D: Day (e.g., 1, 1st)
- YYYY: Year (e.g., 2023)
- ddd: Abbreviated day name (e.g., Mon)
- MMMM: Full month name (e.g., January)
5. Click “OK” to apply the custom format. (See Also: How To Make A New Row In Google Sheets)
Converting Text to Date
If you have dates stored as text in your spreadsheet, you can convert them to date values using the DATEVALUE function.
1. Select the cell where you want the converted date to appear.
2. Enter the following formula, replacing “A1” with the cell containing the text date:
=DATEVALUE(A1)
3. Press Enter. The text date will now be converted to a date value.
Recap
This article covered various methods for changing dates in Google Sheets. You can directly edit dates, format them using pre-defined or custom formats, and convert text to date values using the DATEVALUE function. By mastering these techniques, you can effectively manage and manipulate dates in your spreadsheets.
Frequently Asked Questions: Changing Dates in Google Sheets
How do I change the format of a date in Google Sheets?
To change the format of a date in Google Sheets, select the cell containing the date. Then, go to “Format” > “Number” and choose the desired date format from the list. You can customize the format further by clicking on “More date/time formats”.
Can I change the date in a cell to a different day?
Yes, you can. Select the cell containing the date, then manually type in the new date. Google Sheets will automatically recognize it as a date and format it accordingly.
What if I want to add or subtract days from an existing date?
You can use the DATE function to add or subtract days. For example, to add 7 days to a date in cell A1, you can use the formula “=A1+7”. To subtract 3 days, use “=A1-3”.
How do I change a text string that looks like a date into an actual date?
Select the cell containing the text string. Then, go to “Data” > “Data cleanup” > “Convert to date”. Google Sheets will attempt to recognize the date format and convert it accordingly.
What are some common date formats in Google Sheets?
Some common date formats in Google Sheets include: “mm/dd/yyyy”, “dd/mm/yyyy”, “yyyy-mm-dd”, “mmmm dd, yyyy”, and “dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy”. You can find a complete list of available formats in the “More date/time formats” option under “Format” > “Number”.