XL2000: Page Formats in Header/Footer Use Two-Digit Year

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This article was previously published under Q215676

Symptoms

When you add a date to a header or footer, Microsoft Excel inserts the date as a two-digit year. There is no way to change this from within the Page Setup dialog box.

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Cause

Excel uses the Short date style format specified under Regional Settings in Control Panel. If the Short date style format uses a two-digit year, you will see a two-digit year in a header or footer in Excel.

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Resolution

To use a four-digit year format in a header or footer in Excel, change the Short date style format. To do this, follow these steps:

On the Start menu, point to Settings and then click Control Panel.
Double-click the Regional Settings icon.
Click the Date tab.
In the Short date style box under Short Date, type or select a date format that uses four digits. For example, use one of the following formats:
M/d/yyyy
MM/dd/yyyy
Click Apply. Click OK.