Excel: Converting Time Entered as a Number to a Valid Time

 Last reviewed: November 30, 1994
Article ID: Q78933
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2, 2.21, and 3.0

SUMMARY

The formula shown below converts time entered, without the colon (:) (for example, 121010 instead of 12:10:10), to a valid serial number so that time calculations can be performed or number formatting applied.

MORE INFORMATION

Example

  1. Enter the following number and data into a worksheet.

A1: 95111 A2: =VALUE(LEFT(A1,LEN(A1)-4)&":"&MID(A1,LEN(A1)-3,2)&":"&RIGHT(A1,2)) 

   The value, 0.410543981, which is a valid serial number, should
   result in  cell A2.

  • Select cell A2. From the Format menu, choose Number. Select the "hh:mm:ss" format.

    Now, cell A2 should display the value 9:51:11.

    REFERENCES

    "Microsoft Excel Function Reference," version 3.0, pages 137-138, 151-152, 200, 243

    • KBCategory: kbusage
    KBSubcategory:

    Additional reference words: 2.10 2.1 2.10c 2.1c 2.10d 2.1d 2.20 2.2
    2.21 3.00 4.00 4.0 4.00a 5.00

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    Last reviewed: November 30, 1994
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