Incorrect Date Value Added to Properties Custom Tab

• Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Access, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Access 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you create a custom property for a file in one of the Microsoft Office programs listed at the beginning of this article, if you define the property as Date type, the date value that you type may be displayed incorrectly.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when you type a value using a different date format than the format that is set in the Short Date Style box in the Regional Settings Properties dialog box. For example, if the Short Date Style value is MM/dd/yy, and you create a custom property of Date type for a file in Microsoft Excel, and you add a property with the value 3/Feb/95, the value is displayed as 03/02/95. If the Short Date Style value is dd- MM-yy, and you add a custom property (Date type) with a value of May-3- 95, the value is displayed as 05-Mar-95.

This behavior occurs because of the way the date value is parsed. The Properties dialog box cannot detect the position of the month in the date that you enter if it differs from the Short Date Style value in Windows. Therefore, if you type a date with the month in the wrong position, the month is converted to the numeric value but not switched with the day value to convert to the correct date.

RESOLUTION

To avoid typing an incorrect date value for a custom property, type the date using the format that is set in the Short Date Style box on the Date tab in the Regional Settings Properties dialog box. To check or change this value, do the following:

1. On the taskbar, click the Start button.

2. On the Settings menu, click Control Panel.

3. Double-click the Regional Settings icon, and then click the Date tab.

4. Note the date style in the Short Date Style box. If you want to change the style, click the date style that you want to use in the Short Date Style list.

5. Click OK, and then close the Control Panel.