When working with dates in Google Sheets, it’s not uncommon to need to change the year of a date or a range of dates. This can be a tedious task, especially when dealing with large datasets. However, with the right techniques and formulas, you can easily change the year in Google Sheets and save yourself a lot of time and effort.
Overview
In this guide, we’ll explore the different methods for changing the year in Google Sheets. We’ll cover the use of formulas, functions, and shortcuts to update dates in your spreadsheet. Whether you need to change the year of a single date or a entire column of dates, we’ve got you covered.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to:
- Use the YEAR and DATE functions to change the year of a date
- Employ the EDATE function to shift dates by a specified number of years
- Utilize shortcuts and keyboard shortcuts to quickly update dates
- Apply these methods to real-world scenarios and examples
Let’s dive in and explore the different ways to change the year in Google Sheets!
How to Change Year in Google Sheets
Google Sheets is a powerful online spreadsheet tool that allows users to store, organize, and analyze data. One common task in Google Sheets is changing the year in a date or timestamp. In this article, we will explore the different methods to change the year in Google Sheets.
Method 1: Using the YEAR Function
The YEAR function in Google Sheets is used to extract the year from a date or timestamp. To change the year, you can use the YEAR function in combination with the DATE function. Here’s an example:
| Formula | Description |
|---|---|
| =DATE(2022, MONTH(A1), DAY(A1)) | Changes the year in cell A1 to 2022, while keeping the month and day the same. |
In this formula, A1 is the cell containing the date or timestamp you want to change. The MONTH and DAY functions extract the month and day from the original date, and the DATE function combines them with the new year.
Method 2: Using the EDATE Function
The EDATE function in Google Sheets is used to add or subtract a specified number of months from a date. To change the year, you can use the EDATE function to add or subtract the number of years you want to change. Here’s an example: (See Also: How Do I Create A Filter In Google Sheets)
| Formula | Description |
|---|---|
| =EDATE(A1, 12) | Adds 1 year to the date in cell A1. |
| =EDATE(A1, -12) | Subtracts 1 year from the date in cell A1. |
In this formula, A1 is the cell containing the date or timestamp you want to change. The EDATE function adds or subtracts 12 months (1 year) from the original date.
Method 3: Using Text to Columns
Another method to change the year in Google Sheets is to use the Text to Columns feature. This method is useful when you want to change the year in a large range of cells. Here’s an example:
Step 1: Select the range of cells containing the dates or timestamps you want to change.
Step 2: Go to the “Data” menu and select “Text to Columns”.
Step 3: In the “Text to Columns” dialog box, select “Delimited text” and choose the delimiter that separates the year from the rest of the date (e.g. “/”).
Step 4: In the next step, select the column containing the year and enter the new year in the “Replace with” field.
Step 5: Click “Finish” to apply the changes.
Common Scenarios
In this section, we will explore some common scenarios where you might need to change the year in Google Sheets. (See Also: How To Connect Columns In Google Sheets)
Scenario 1: Changing the Year in a Date Range
Sometimes, you might need to change the year in a range of dates, such as changing all dates in a column from 2020 to 2022. You can use the methods described above to achieve this.
Scenario 2: Changing the Year in a Timestamp
If you have a timestamp in the format “YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS”, you might need to change the year while keeping the rest of the timestamp the same. You can use the methods described above to achieve this.
Recap
In this article, we explored three methods to change the year in Google Sheets: using the YEAR function, using the EDATE function, and using Text to Columns. We also discussed common scenarios where you might need to change the year in Google Sheets.
Remember: When changing the year in Google Sheets, make sure to format the resulting date or timestamp correctly to avoid errors.
We hope this article has been helpful in teaching you how to change the year in Google Sheets. If you have any further questions or need more assistance, feel free to ask!