Convert custom date format (saved as text) so that you can sort the data

I have downloaded a .CSV file with some data. Specifically the file is from LinkedIn.


LinkedIn have decided to use some custom date format scheme: 2/7/18, 1:07 PM


My mission: I want to sort the data, so that the rows with the newest date is in top.

My problem: I cannot sort the data correctly, because Apple Numbers do not recognise the format

My idea: I want to tell Apple Numbers how they can understand the dateformat, so they it can sort it properly.


What I have tried:

Create custom dataformat

Marking the columns where Date is in. Then clicked Cell -> Data Format -> Create Custom Dataformat. I have tried to replicate the format exactly. This fails to do the job. I guess it expects a "date" column, and then it can "reformat" it to another format. However, the column I'm trying to convert is a "text" column. So I guess this tool won't do the job.


Final resort

In case theres no tool for this, the only complicated way I can think of is:

- Create 3 new columns: Date, Time and DateTime

- Split the Date column by comma, and part it into Date and Time.

- Merge Date and Time into DateTime and make sure it's formatted as DATE

- Sort the columns

Posted on Feb 12, 2018 5:46 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 14, 2018 4:14 AM

If I type or paste a date in that format, it is recognized as a date. If I import it from a CSV file, the cell format is "automatic" but I can change it to date & time and the value is recognized as a date and time.

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5 replies

Feb 12, 2018 6:30 AM in response to canfiax

On my machine Numbers does correctly recognize 2/7/18, 1:07 PM as a date-time when I paste it into a cell. It's right-aligned and I can sort it. My region is set to US. Are you in a region that uses a different date format? If you are, then a short script can "correct" the imported data so that it will be recognized as date-time on your machine. Can suggest that after knowing what date format your system uses.


SG

Feb 12, 2018 6:38 AM in response to canfiax

Hi canfiax,


What version of Numbers? (Numbers Menu > Numbers > About Numbers).

What version of the operating system? (Apple Menu > About This Mac).


I tried this in Numbers 6 under macOS Sierra. I typed 2/7/18, 1:07 PM into a cell formatted as Text

User uploaded file

I then formatted the cell as Date & Time

User uploaded file

Numbers is very powerful at recognising anything that we humans see as a date and/or a time.

My Region uses Day Month Year. If your Region uses Month Day Year, you may see 2/7/18 convert to February 7 2018.

Some double-figure dates will make that more clear.


Please call back with questions.

Regards,

Ian.

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Convert custom date format (saved as text) so that you can sort the data

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