[mso] Excel Date Format Problem

Hi guys,
I received a spreadsheet with a date column that?was originally formated with 
the "*mm/dd/yyyy" format (note the star at the front). I do not know what 
version of Excel was originally used to create the spreadsheet or on what 
platform.

The interesting problem about it is that the date is displayed four years 
and?one day in the future.

For instance, the date in in one cell is displayed as "7/8/1992? 1:26:24 AM" 
when it should be "7/7/1988? 1:26:24 AM". If I copy the cell to a new 
spreadsheet it displays correctly. The cell contents of both the old and new 
spreadsheets, if displayed as a decimal number,?is 32331.06 This?corresponds to 
the example?given in?"How to use dates and times in Excel"?in 
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/214094?

No matter what I do in regard to formatting (changing it from date to text, to 
general to any other format), I can't get the date cells to show the correct 
date in the old spreadheet. I even tried switching between Excel 2008 and 2007 
... no joy in Mudville.

It's obvious?the problem is?somehow releated to leap years

I know what to do to correct the data in the spreadsheet, i.e., copy the whole 
dang spreadsheet from the problematical spreadsheet into a new spreadsheet, but 
I sure would like an explanation and thought I'd share this with you guys as a 
"Humph! I should check the dates in this spreadsheet"?

Has anyone ever had or seen?this sort of problem?

Larry


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