Need help with Microsoft Excel problem

LSF · Aug 17, 2026

I’m running Windows 11 Pro, and Microsoft Office Excel 2003.

I’ve created an Excel spreadsheet where column A contains dates, which I space every other line (ex. A1, A3 .), and column 2 (ex. B2) shows the number of days elapsed between any 2 dates, using the formula =A3-A1. This has been working well for me until recently.

Now, after entering the dates in column 1, and applying the formula in column 2, I get “#VALUE!” in the column 2 cell. I can’t figure out what the problem is.
The column A cells are formatted as “Date 14-Mar-01)”, and the column B cells are formatted as “Number”.

I’d appreciate any help you can provide.

Try3 · Aug 17, 2026

LSF said:
I get “#VALUE!” in the column 2 cell

OK, so that's the value of the cell but what is the formula in that cell?
I suggest you post a screenshot of the cell that also shows the other cells referred to.

Denis

LSF · Aug 17, 2026

Hi, Denis.
I'm not sure what additional info you're asking for (I thought that I provided it all),, so I'll try again.

Assuming, for this example, that I start with a new Excel matrix.
In the first column (column A), on Row 1, I type a date (ex. March 20, 2025).
In the first column, on Row 2, I type a date (ex. April 20, 2025).
Both of these cells (A1 and A3) are formatted to accept a date in the format shown.

Now, in the 2nd column (column B), row 2, I type the formula (minus quotes), "=A3-A1".
When I leave the cell (or click enter), I would expect the cell B2 to show the number of days between cells A1 and A3.
Instead, the cell B2 reverts to “#VALUE!” (minus quotes). Note that cell B2 is formatted as a number cell.

My question: is the formula "=A3-A1" (minus quotes) incorrect, or is the cell format incorrect, or, moe importantly, what am I missing?

I hope this is enough information. Thanks for looking.

Try3 · Aug 17, 2026

LSF said:
I'm not sure what additional info you're asking for

I asked to see a screenshot so I can see what's in the Formula bar entry for the cell in question.

LSF said:
I hope this is enough information

No, it's not - there are contradictions in your textual description of the situation that a screenshot will resolve.

Denis

LSF · Aug 17, 2026

OK, I see what you want. I'm attaching screenshot of the file I just described.
Hope that helps. Thanks

Cipri · Aug 17, 2026

Here dates are always left aligned and your dates are right aligned, as if the A column format is as text, not as date.

idgat · Tuesday at 12:44 AM

If you want the dates to appear in that format you need to format cells mmmm dd, yyyy. Currently formatted as Text or General and you can't do calculations/formulae on that format

Try3 · Tuesday at 2:27 AM

I've played around with test examples.
I could only reproduce your error by first formatting the cells as text and only then typing in March 23, 2024 and April 23, 2024 directly.
So it seems to me that you have formatted at least one of those column A cells as text.

If, without first doing any formatting, I typed 23/3/24 and 23/4/24 [I'm a Brit] in the A column, it worked correctly.
[I then Custom formatted the date cells as mmmm dd, yyyy to get them looking the way yours did.]
[The particular date format chosen has no bearing on the problem. It is only formatting cells as text that causes the problem.]

It was only after first formatting column A cells as text*** and only then typing March 23, 2024 and April 23, 2024 that I saw the error.
[*** Right-click, select Format cells.]

[Oh, and I did not have to change the default left alignments at any stage.]

Denis

idgat · Tuesday at 2:49 AM

LSF said:
Microsoft Office Excel 2003.

Using such an old version is not helping things much because you'll have to find someone who knows how to get into (what menu steps) the cell format dialogue box to set the above suggested parameters

However, if it's of any help, in 365 it's Home menu > Format > Format cells > Custom > manually add the format mmmm dd, yyyy

Try3 · Tuesday at 2:59 AM

I do have a more general comment to make that is not related to your current problem.

I believe that, if you rearrange the spreadsheet to avoid blank cells, you'll find it much easier to maintain and you'll be able to take advantage of Excel's excellent Filter, Freeze pane & scrolling capabilities [which I think existed in Excel 2003 even though they were not as refined as they later became].
e.g.

All the best,
Denis

jimbo45 · Tuesday at 8:50 AM

Probably the error is also whether it's US bonkers date format or more sensible European one of dd/mm/yyyy or yyyy/mm/dd. The US system is a hodgepodge with no easily sorting algorithm etc. But again it depends on the base version of your Windows install whether it was UK / International English, a European language or a US version which will set the default date format.

Cheers
jimbo

LSF · Tuesday at 1:30 PM

Wow! That gives me a lot to think about.
Thank you all (Denis, Cipri, idgat) for taking the time to help me. Now, I'm off to test some of your suggestions (I really hope that I can reproduce Denis' results) but I'm learning a lot from all your comments.
I'll get back to let you know (one way or the other) how things went.

LSF · Tuesday at 3:04 PM

Denis, I attempted to replicate the formatting that you used to get the desired results, but had no success.
Would you please send me a copy of the exact file that worked for you, so that I can compare your formatting with what I've tried, and to verify that your edit works correctly on my machine?
Thank you.

Try3 · Tuesday at 3:11 PM

Please give me a few minutes. I'll have to do it all again.
My recycle bin has retained all the screenshots I made from which I selected those I posted but the xlsx itself is not there so I cannot have saved it at all.

Denis

Try3 · Tuesday at 3:32 PM

Example attached in xls format [within a zip file] so you can read it in Excel 2003 [I used Excel 2007 to make the file].

- I had to zip it up because the forum does not accept attached Excel files directly.
- The xls is as displayed above except that I corrected one spelling error after making the screenshot. I did not notice the two other spolling pistakes until after I had posted.

The funny symbol next to the #value! cell is the equivalent of the little green mark shown in your #value! cell's upper-left corner.
- You can click on it to get a helpful/unhelpful additional blurb about the fact that there is a problem.
- If I remember correctly, you could tell your Excel to display the same way as mine in this regard. I think it was in Excel options but it's twenty years since I played with Excel 2003.

All the best,
Denis

Cipri · Tuesday at 4:27 PM

Opening with Excel 2007 the example attached I get the “#VALUE!” error but if I use the compatible Softmaker Planmaker I get 31, no error.

Try3 · Tuesday at 4:38 PM

Cipri said:
Opening with Excel 2007 the example attached I get the “#VALUE!” error but if I use the compatible Softmaker Planmaker I get 31, no error.

And, in that other spreadsheet application, are the A11 & A13 cells still text or has it automatically recognised their content as dates & formatted the cells to suit?

Denis

Cipri · Tuesday at 5:43 PM

A11 & A13 cells are still text but Planmaker recognises their content as dates, it seems that there is no way to force Planmaker to treat a date as something different to a date.

Try3 · Tuesday at 5:47 PM

Thanks. Whilst I had heard of the Softmaker office suite, I haven't played with it or studied it.

Denis

Cipri · Tuesday at 5:58 PM

I like SoftMaker FreeOffice 2024 because it is more compatible with Excel than others free suites, and its footprint is only 430 Mb

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