Numbers Separated by a Slash Display Differently in Excel

SUMMARY

When you enter two numbers separated by a slash (/) on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, Excel treats the entry differently, based on the numbers, and which version of Excel is being used.

If Alternate Navigation Keys is disabled in Version 3.00 of Excel, the different version of Excel treat the entries the same.

MORE INFORMATION

There are two categories; (A) X is greater than 12, (B) X is between 1 and 12.

(A) X is GREATER than 12:

        In Excel 2.xx, the two numbers will be displayed as entered,
        and considered text.

        In Excel 3.00, if Alternate Navigations Keys are enabled,
        the two numbers will be displayed as a fraction, and
        considered a number.  If Alternate Navigations Keys are
        disabled, the entry will behave as in Excel 2.xx.

        date entry by looking at the Y entry.

        IF X is between 1 and 12, and Y is as follows:


        1. Inclusively between 1900 and 2078, the entry is treated
        as a month and year

        2. A valid day for the month to which X translates (for
        example, X=2=February - Valid Y entries are 1-28), the
        entry is treated as a month and day

        3. Either 0 or a 2-digit number that is too large to be
        a valid day for the month to which X translates, the
        entry is treated as a month and year (1900 + Y)

        (THE ABOVE 3 POSSIBILITIES APPLY TO ALL VERSIONS OF EXCEL)


        4. For Excel version 2.xx: Anything else, the entry is
        treated exactly as it has been input.

           For Excel version 3.00: If Alternate Navigation Keys
        are enabled, the entry will be entered as a fraction and
        considered a number.  If Alternate Navigation Keys are
        disabled, the entry is treated as input.

Examples

The following are examples:

You Enter            Excel 2.xx Enters    In Formula Bar
-----------          -----------------    --------------

 2/20                   20-Feb              2/20/1990
 5/80                   May-80              5/01/1980
 13/90                  13/90               13/90
 2/2079                 2/2079              2/2079

You Enter            Excel 3.00 Enters    In Formula Bar
-----------          -----------------    --------------

 2/20                   20-Feb              2/20/1990
 5/80                   May-80              5/01/1980
 13/90                  0.14444             =13/90
 2/2079                 0.00096             =2/2079