Working with dates in Google Sheets is essential for tasks like tracking deadlines, analyzing trends, and managing schedules. Sometimes, you might need to adjust dates for various reasons, such as correcting a typo or reformatting them for better presentation.
How to Change Dates in Google Sheets
Fortunately, Google Sheets provides several convenient methods to modify dates. Whether you want to change the format, extract specific parts of a date, or shift dates forward or backward, you’ll find the tools you need within the spreadsheet application.
Understanding Date Formats
Before diving into the techniques, it’s crucial to grasp how Google Sheets handles dates. Dates are stored as numbers, representing the number of days since January 1, 1900. This numerical representation allows for easy calculations and manipulations. However, you can display dates in various formats using the built-in date formatting options.
How to Change Dates in Google Sheets
Dates are essential for tracking information in Google Sheets, and sometimes you need to modify them. Whether you want to adjust the format, change the day, month, or year, or convert text to dates, Google Sheets offers several ways to handle date changes effectively.
Formatting Dates
Google Sheets automatically recognizes dates and displays them in a user-friendly format. However, you can customize the date format to suit your preferences.
- Select the cells containing the dates you want to format.
- Go to “Format” > “Number” in the menu bar.
- Choose “Date” from the category list.
- Select the desired date format from the options provided. You can choose from various formats like MM/DD/YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY, or YYYY-MM-DD.
Changing Individual Date Components
You can modify specific parts of a date, such as the day, month, or year, using formulas. (See Also: How To Arrange Google Sheet By Date)
Changing the Day
To change the day of a date, use the DAY function. For example, if cell A1 contains the date “10/26/2023”, the formula `=DAY(A1)` will return 26.
Changing the Month
To change the month, use the MONTH function. In the same example, `=MONTH(A1)` will return 10.
Changing the Year
To change the year, use the YEAR function. `=YEAR(A1)` will return 2023.
Converting Text to Dates
If you have dates stored as text, you can convert them to date format using the DATEVALUE function. (See Also: How To Clear A Google Sheet)
- Select the cell containing the text date.
- Enter the formula `=DATEVALUE(A1)` (replace A1 with the cell containing the text date).
Recap
This article provided a comprehensive guide on changing dates in Google Sheets. We covered formatting dates, modifying individual date components using formulas, and converting text to dates. By understanding 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, select the cell containing the date. Then, click on the “Format” menu in the toolbar and choose “Number”. In the “Number” settings, select “Date” from the category list and choose your desired format from the options provided. Click “OK” to apply the changes.
Can I change the date itself in a cell?
Yes, you can directly edit the date in a cell. Simply click on the cell containing the date, type in the new date, and press Enter. Google Sheets will automatically recognize and format the new date accordingly.
What if I have a date stored as text?
If a date is stored as text, you’ll need to convert it to a date format before you can change it. You can do this using the DATEVALUE function. For example, if your date is stored as “10/26/2023” in cell A1, you can use the formula `=DATEVALUE(A1)` in another cell to convert it to a date. Then, you can edit the resulting date as needed.
How do I change the date in a formula?
To change the date in a formula, simply replace the old date with the new date. For example, if you have a formula `=TODAY()` that displays the current date, you can change it to `=DATE(2024, 3, 15)` to display March 15, 2024.
Can I automatically update dates in Google Sheets?
Yes, you can use the TODAY function to automatically display the current date in a cell. Any time you open the spreadsheet, the cell containing the TODAY function will update to reflect the current date.