It sounds as if 35608 is actually text
Let's say it is in cell A1; what are the results of =ISNUMBER(A1) and
=ISTEXT(A1)
Try Edit | Clear | Clear all on the cell, then type 25/12/2007 or 12/25/2007
depending were you live. What happens now?
best wishes

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Bernard V Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
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> Despite changing the formatting of the cells, typing in a date displays
> the
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> I know it's a newbie question but can't seem to locate in help either.
> Explains not quite all the way to what we needed...THANKS!