# Excel question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/488406 "2009-03-05T17:07:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![baileygrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@baileygrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baileygrrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/488406/1 "2009-03-05T17:07:01Z")
In the table below, how do I calculate the # of elapsed days between columns A and B? 20080110 20081125 20080204 20081210 20080425 20081125 20080612 20081023 20080703 20090218 20080721 20081212 20080730 20081209 20080731 20081125 20080805 20081115 20080808 20081024 20080822 20081117 20080822 20081110 20080828 20081120 20080829 20081024 ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/488406/2 "2009-03-05T17:25:27Z")
Column C is this: =MID(A1,5,2) & “/” & MID(A1,7,2) & “/” & MID(A1,1,4) Column D is this: =MID(B1,5,2) & “/” & MID(B1,7,2) & “/” & MID(B1,1,4) and then Column E is simply: =D1-C1 ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/488406/3 "2009-03-05T19:08:30Z")
> [@baileygrrrl](#): > > In the table below, how do I calculate the # of elapsed days between columns A and B? > > 20080110 20081125 > 20080204 20081210 > 20080425 20081125 > 20080612 20081023 > 20080703 20090218 > 20080721 20081212 > 20080730 20081209 > 20080731 20081125 > 20080805 20081115 > 20080808 20081024 > 20080822 20081117 > 20080822 20081110 > 20080828 20081120 > 20080829 20081024 1. Change both columns to be “General” Format. 2. Highlight the first column. On the toolbar, click on Data -\> Text to columns -\> Next -\> Next -\> In the upper right hand column set the Column Data Format to “Date YMD”. Do this for both columns. 3. In Column C, set it to be B1 - A1. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/488406/4 "2009-03-05T21:28:04Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > Highlight the first column. On the toolbar, click on Data -\> Text to columns -\> Next -\> Next -\> In the upper right hand column set the Column Data Format to “Date YMD”. Do this for both columns. Wow! I’ve seen that dialog before, but only when importing from a text file. I didn’t know it works on stuff that’s already typed in. Way to go! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/488406/5 "2009-03-05T22:24:44Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > 1. Change both columns to be “General” Format. > 2. Highlight the first column. On the toolbar, click on Data -\> Text to columns -\> Next -\> Next -\> In the upper right hand column set the Column Data Format to “Date YMD”. Do this for both columns. > 3. In Column C, set it to be B1 - A1. After doing that, you can use the undocumented DATEDIF function to get, say, the number of months between the dates. Set C = DATEDIF(A1, B1, “d”) for days, “m” for months etc. > **[DATEDIF Worksheet Function](http://www.cpearson.com/excel/datedif.aspx)** ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/488406/6 "2009-03-06T05:16:30Z")
Wow. And i thought I was smart. Too technical for me. I was going to suggest changing the field to ‘date’ format and then sort by that. ::bowing out to the kids table:: ---
**Author:** ![baileygrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@baileygrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baileygrrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/488406/7 "2009-03-09T14:33:37Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > 1. Change both columns to be “General” Format. > 2. Highlight the first column. On the toolbar, click on Data -\> Text to columns -\> Next -\> Next -\> In the upper right hand column set the Column Data Format to “Date YMD”. Do this for both columns. > 3. In Column C, set it to be B1 - A1. Excellent thanks! I didn’t know this either and it will come in very handy.