When working with time-related data in Google Sheets, it’s not uncommon to encounter military time format, also known as the 24-hour clock. While this format is essential in certain industries, such as aviation, transportation, and the military, it can be confusing for those who are accustomed to the 12-hour clock. Fortunately, Google Sheets provides an easy way to remove military time and convert it to a more familiar format.
Overview
This tutorial will guide you through the step-by-step process of removing military time in Google Sheets. We will explore the different methods and formulas you can use to convert military time to a 12-hour clock, including the use of the TEXT function, FORMAT function, and conditional formatting. By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to easily remove military time in Google Sheets and work with time-related data with confidence.
What You Will Learn
In this tutorial, you will learn how to:
- Use the
TEXTfunction to convert military time to a 12-hour clock - Apply the
FORMATfunction to change the time format - Utilize conditional formatting to highlight and convert military time
- Work with different time formats and convert them to a standard format
By mastering these techniques, you will be able to efficiently work with time-related data in Google Sheets and make informed decisions based on accurate and easily readable data.
How to Remove Military Time in Google Sheets
Google Sheets, by default, displays time in military format (24-hour clock), which can be confusing for those who are accustomed to the 12-hour clock format. Fortunately, there are ways to remove military time in Google Sheets and display time in a more familiar format. In this article, we will explore the steps to achieve this.
Understanding Military Time in Google Sheets
Before we dive into the solution, it’s essential to understand how Google Sheets handles time. When you enter a time value in a cell, Google Sheets automatically converts it to military time. For example, if you enter 3:45 PM, it will be displayed as 15:45. This can be problematic when you need to display time in a specific format.
Method 1: Using the TEXT Function
One way to remove military time in Google Sheets is by using the TEXT function. This function allows you to format a value as text using a specified format.
The syntax for the TEXT function is:
| TEXT(value, format) |
In this case, we want to format the time value as a 12-hour clock format. We can use the following formula: (See Also: How To Create A Drop Down Cell In Google Sheets)
=TEXT(A1, “h:mm AM/PM”)
Assuming the time value is in cell A1, this formula will display the time in the format “hh:mm AM/PM”. For example, if the value in cell A1 is 15:45, the formula will display it as 3:45 PM.
Method 2: Using the FORMAT_TIME Function
Another way to remove military time in Google Sheets is by using the FORMAT_TIME function. This function allows you to format a time value as a string using a specified format.
The syntax for the FORMAT_TIME function is:
| FORMAT_TIME(time, format) |
In this case, we want to format the time value as a 12-hour clock format. We can use the following formula:
=FORMAT_TIME(A1, “h:mm a”)
Assuming the time value is in cell A1, this formula will display the time in the format “hh:mm AM/PM”. For example, if the value in cell A1 is 15:45, the formula will display it as 3:45 PM.
Method 3: Changing the Time Format in the Cell
A third way to remove military time in Google Sheets is by changing the time format in the cell itself. You can do this by selecting the cell containing the time value and going to the “Format” tab in the top menu. (See Also: How To Import Specific Columns In Google Sheets)
In the “Format” tab, select “Number” and then “Time” from the drop-down menu. In the “Time format” section, select the 12-hour clock format from the list of available formats.
This method is useful when you want to display the time value in a specific format without using a formula.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored three methods to remove military time in Google Sheets. By using the TEXT function, FORMAT_TIME function, or changing the time format in the cell, you can display time values in a 12-hour clock format that is more familiar to most users.
Remember to choose the method that best suits your needs and preferences.
By following these steps, you can easily remove military time in Google Sheets and make your spreadsheets more user-friendly.
We hope this article has been helpful in achieving your goal. If you have any further questions or need more assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Recap
In this article, we discussed the following topics:
- Understanding military time in Google Sheets
- Using the TEXT function to remove military time
- Using the FORMAT_TIME function to remove military time
- Changing the time format in the cell to remove military time
We hope this recap is helpful in summarizing the key points discussed in this article.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Remove Military Time in Google Sheets
Why is Google Sheets displaying time in military format?
Google Sheets displays time in military format (24-hour clock) by default. This is because the default time format in Google Sheets is set to “HH:mm” which represents hours in 24-hour format. You can change this format to a 12-hour clock by selecting the cells containing time data, going to the “Format” tab, and selecting “Time” from the drop-down menu.
How do I convert military time to standard time in Google Sheets?
To convert military time to standard time in Google Sheets, you can use the TEXT function. For example, if you have a cell containing military time in the format “HH:mm” (e.g., 14:30), you can use the formula =TEXT(A1,”hh:mm AM/PM”) to convert it to standard time (e.g., 2:30 PM). Replace A1 with the cell containing the military time.
Can I remove military time formatting from an entire column in Google Sheets?
Yes, you can remove military time formatting from an entire column in Google Sheets. Select the entire column by clicking on the column header, then go to the “Format” tab, and select “Time” from the drop-down menu. In the “Time format” section, select “12:00 PM” from the format options. This will apply the standard time format to the entire column.
How do I prevent Google Sheets from automatically converting time to military format?
To prevent Google Sheets from automatically converting time to military format, you can format the cells as “Plain text” before entering time data. To do this, select the cells where you want to enter time data, go to the “Format” tab, and select “Plain text” from the drop-down menu. This will prevent Google Sheets from automatically applying the military time format.
Can I use a formula to remove military time formatting from a range of cells in Google Sheets?
Yes, you can use a formula to remove military time formatting from a range of cells in Google Sheets. For example, if you want to remove military time formatting from cells A1:A10, you can use the formula =ARRAYFORMULA(TEXT(A1:A10,”hh:mm AM/PM”)). This formula will convert the military time format to standard time format for the entire range of cells.