How To Convert Date To Year In Excel

Convert Date to Year in Excel

Using the YEAR Function

The YEAR function in Excel simplifies the process of extracting a four-digit year from a date. Utilize the function with the syntax YEAR(serial_number), where serial_number is the date you want to convert. This function works for any valid date from 1900 to 9999, whether input as a serial number or text.

Handling Dates Stored as Text

While the YEAR function can process dates entered as text, it may not recognize all text date formats. If you encounter issues with text dates, use the DATE function to convert them into a serial number format that YEAR can process.

YEAR Function with TODAY

For real-time data, use the YEAR function combined with the TODAY function. This returns the current year with the formula YEAR(TODAY()). It dynamically extracts the year part from today's date, offering a useful way to reference the current year in date calculations.

Integrating YEAR with Other Functions

For more complex date-to-year conversions, integrate the YEAR function with other Excel date functions like TEXT, DATEDIF, or EOMONTH. These combinations allow for enhanced date analysis and processing within your spreadsheet.

Excel vs. Sourcetable: Streamlined Data Management for Modern Teams

Excel, a robust spreadsheet tool by Microsoft, is renowned for its data analysis, budgeting, and manipulation capabilities. It serves as a traditional choice for diverse business tasks, from accounting to project management. Excel's extensive functions, which are extendable with add-ons and macros, cater to deep analysis and complex calculations. However, it lacks real-time seamless data sync and collaboration features provided by modern web-based platforms.

Sourcetable, specifically designed for growth teams and business operations, is a contemporary alternative. Unlike Excel, Sourcetable seamlessly integrates with over 100 applications, syncing data into a singular, user-friendly spreadsheet interface, which updates live models automatically. Its no-code, AI-powered copilot accelerates productivity by generating formulas and templates through intuitive chat interactions. Sourcetable's sharing options are more streamlined compared to Excel's more traditional methods, enhancing collaboration within teams.

As businesses evolve towards a data-centric approach, Sourcetable presents itself as a sophisticated yet accessible choice. It allows team members to centralize, analyze, and model data efficiently, without the necessity of coding skills, positioning itself as a specialized data management and reporting tool that is ideal for quick, informed decision-making. In contrast, Excel is suited for users requiring versatile, in-depth data manipulation who are familiar with its traditional sharing and real-time collaboration via OneDrive.