=DATEVALUE(date_text)
The DATEVALUE function can be used to convert a date from its text form to a number. For example, =DATEVALUE("8/22/2011") returns 40777. This is because Sourcetable stores dates as numbers, and 8/22/2011 is the 40777th day since January 1, 1900.
The DATEVALUE function is not limited to a specific date format. It can also be used with dates entered in different formats, such as =DATEVALUE("22-MAY-2011"), which returns 40685.
The DATEVALUE function can also take dates in different formats, such as =DATEVALUE("2011/02/23"), which returns 40597.
The DATEVALUE function can be used with dates entered in shorthand formats. For example, =DATEVALUE("5-JUL") returns 39634.
The DATEVALUE function can also be used with multiple cells in a formula. For example, =DATEVALUE(A2 & "/" & A3 & "/" & A4) returns 40850 by using the values in the cells A2, A3, and A4.
The DATEVALUE function is a useful tool for working with dates in text formats as it can filter, sort, and format them. It is especially helpful in converting dates stored in text to serial numbers.