Thanks David,

I have found that I can control somewhat the format of the cells by going
into the Style section. But I can not access all cells this way. I think I
solved the initial problem using this approach though. Still can not access
the format screen through the pull down menu, only through the style sub-menu
entry. Then, selecting date, I can set the date format and other tab
settings.


"David McRitchie" wrote:

Hi Jon,
It is controlled in your short date format in your system regional settings.

Windows Start, Settings, Control Panel, Regional options, date(tab),
Short date format: mm/dd/yy
if the 03 is for March.

But is doesn't make sense that you would have the time in your regional
date format.



HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"Jon H." <Jon wrote in message ...
I have just upgraded to Excel 2003 from 2000. I have a date field which
looks like this: 03/05/05. The new 2003 file looks like thie: 03/05/2005
00:00AM. When I select FormatCell, I get nothing. Unable to clear the
field and start over. Can not get the format screen to appear. When I try
with an unused field, I get the FormatCell screen with the various tabs.
What gives?