Forum Discussion
Excel keeps crashing when trying to convert dates using text to column
I have a large excel file containing over 12,000 rows of data. I cannot filter the data by date because excel doesn't recognise the UK dates as a date format and it cant be changed using the change format settings. I know you can do it by using text to columns and use the DYM setting. However, when I try and do this with the current file it always crashes. How can I avoid this crash or is there an alternative method of resolving the issue?
SergeiBaklan Brilliant, that second option worked! Thank you very much.
12 Replies
12000 rows is not dramatic for Text to Columns itself. Perhaps it crashes due to recalculation if a lot of dependencies. I'd try 1) do the same in safe mode 2) repair/update the Office.
SergeiBaklan I tried both starting in safe mode as suggested and setting 'Calculation Options' to Manual but it still shuts down when I try convert them using text-to-columns. I can't repair or update office because I am using a work computer which is controlled by the organisation.
- you may ask sysadmins to repair
- one more, copy/paste this column into new file and Text to Columns it. If works, that means the problem in formulas which reference this you column, not in Text to Columns itself.
KIZZA94 Have you considered using Power Query (if you are not on a Mac, that is)? Would also be good to know exactly how the "dates" look like before you try to transform them into the UK format.
- I am using a work computer so cannot download any software.
KIZZA94 Power Query is integrated in Excel since 2016. So, no download needed if you are a recent Excel version.
- It's true, in PQ, you could set up local datetime format.
