Hello, ## Meta Version: 4.3.3.2 Build ID: 430m0(Build:2) OS: Debian GNU/Linux 8.4 (jessie) 64-bit ## Problem When one tries to convert a string (eg. "31-12-2016") using "Right click" > "Format Cells" and than selecting a specific date format, either nothing happens or, if the cell was previously formatted as "Text", an apostrophe is happened at the beginning of the string (eg. "'31-12-2016"). ## Expected result The string is converted to the chosen date format. ## How to reproduce the bug ### bug 1: nothing happens * Open a new Calc document ; * In the A1 cell, insert "31-12-2016" (DD-MM-YYYY) ; * "Right click" on this cell, select "Format Cells..." ; * In the "Numbers" tab, select the "Date" category, select any format, press "Ok". Note that the problem occurs no matter what the string looks like (DD-MM-YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY, YYYY/MM/DD,...). Except for ISO-8601 (YYYY-MM-DD) strings whose cell is automatically converted to "Date" upon hitting "Enter" or "Tab". ### bug 2: an apostrophe is happened at the the beginning of the string I can't reproduce this bug in a new document even though I just experienced it in a file I have been working on. This alternate behavior (insert an apostrophe instead of doing nothing) is not new, see https://ask.libreoffice.org/en/question/6466/trouble-formatting-date-cells-in-calc/
Hi Leonard, Thanks for reporting. This is not a LibreOffice bug per see. - There are options how to handle numbers marked as text under Tools > Options > Calc > Formula > Detailed calculation settings... Custom ; - On importing from csv one can do a lot; - There is an extension that can help in other situations. http://extensions.libreoffice.org/extension-center/ct2n-convert-text-to-number-and-dates HTH, Ciao, Cor
With the whole cell to convert in the same column, it's possible to use: Menu/Data/Text to column Click on the header of the column and select the right Column type for the date.