How to Convert Date to Day of Week in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide
One of the most difficult-to-navigate tasks in Excel is to convert a date to the day of the week. This can be useful when you want to analyze data by day of the week, or when you want to create a schedule or calendar. Fortunately, Excel has several built-in functions that can help you convert a date to the day of the week.
One way to convert a date to the day of the week in Excel is to use the TEXT function. This function allows you to format a date in a specific way. To use the TEXT function, you simply need to specify the date and the format you want to use. For example, if you want to display the day of the week in full, you can use the format “dddd”. If you want to display the day of the week in abbreviated form, you can use the format “ddd”. Once you have specified the format, Excel will display the day of the week for the date you have entered.
Convert Date to Day of Week Using the TEXT Function
One of the most common methods to convert a date to a day of the week in Excel is by using the TEXT function. This function takes dates and returns the specific format extracted from the given date.
To use the TEXT function to display the day of the week from a date, follow these steps:
- Select the cell where you want to display the day of the week.
- Enter the formula
=TEXT(cell,"dddd")where C1 here is the cell containing the date.
- Press Enter.
The dddd format code in the formula tells the TEXT function to return the full name of the day of the week (e.g. Monday, Tuesday, etc.). If you prefer the abbreviated name of the day, use ddd instead.
Note that the TEXT function can also be used to display dates in a variety of formats, such as “yyyy/mm/dd”, “mm/dd/yyyy”, “dd-mm-yyyy”, etc. Simply change the format code in the formula to match the desired format.
Overall, the TEXT function is a powerful tool for converting dates to different formats in Excel, including displaying the day of the week from a date.
Convert Date to Day of Week Using Format Cells
Another way to convert a date to a day of the week in Excel is by using the Format Cells feature. This method is particularly useful if you want to display the day of the week in a specific format.
To use this feature, first select the cells containing the dates that you want to convert. Then, right-click on the selected cells and choose “Format Cells” from the drop-down menu.
In the Format Cells dialog box, select the “Custom” category and enter “dddd” in the “Type” field.
This will format the selected cells to display the full name of the day of the week, such as “Monday,” “Tuesday,” etc. If you only want to display the abbreviated name of the day of the week, you can enter “ddd” instead.
You can also use this method to display the day of the week in a different language. Simply select the appropriate language from the “Locale (location)” drop-down menu in the Format Cells dialog box.
Using the Format Cells feature is a quick and easy way to convert dates to days of the week in Excel. It allows you to customize the format of the day of the week to suit your needs and preferences.
Convert Date to Day of Week Using a Mix of Formulas
Excel provides various formulas to convert date to day of the week. One of the ways to convert date to day of the week is by using a mix of formulas. The formula involves using the WEEKDAY and CHOOSE functions together.
The WEEKDAY function returns a number between 1 and 7, representing the day of the week for a given date. By default, the function returns 1 for Sunday, 2 for Monday, and so on. However, this can be customized by using the optional second argument of the function.
In this example, the second argument of the function (2) tells Excel that we will use Monday as the first day of the week and Sunday as the last.
The CHOOSE function returns a value from a list of values based on the index number. In this case, the function will return the day of the week based on the number returned by the WEEKDAY function.
U can use a mix of formulas to convert a date to day of the week in Excel, following these steps:
- Enter the date in a cell in Excel.
- In another cell, enter the formula
=WEEKDAY(A1). - In another cell, enter the formula
=CHOOSE(WEEKDAY(cell),"Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday").
The first formula will return a number between 1 and 7, representing the day of the week for the given date. The second formula will return the actual day of the week based on the number returned by the first formula. It is for sure not the most efficient way, but it does have a use -displaying days in a different format.
It is also important to note that the CHOOSE function can be customized to display the day of the week in a different language or format. For example, you can use the following formula to display the day of the week in Spanish: =CHOOSE(WEEKDAY(A1),"Domingo","Lunes","Martes","Miércoles","Jueves","Viernes","Sábado").
The CHOOSE function provides flexibility in displaying the day of the week in different languages or formats.
Conclusion
In conclusion, converting dates to days of the week in Excel is a simple task that can be accomplished using various methods. One can use the built-in functions such as WEEKDAY and TEXT to convert dates to the corresponding day of the week. Alternatively, one can use the custom format option to display the day of the week directly from the date.
It is important to note that the method used will depend on the specific needs of the user. For instance, if one needs to calculate the number of days between two dates, then the WEEKDAY function is the best option. On the other hand, if one needs to display the day of the week in a cell, then the custom format option is the best choice.
Furthermore, it is important to ensure that the date format used is correct before attempting to convert it to the day of the week. Excel has a wide range of date formats, and using the wrong format can lead to errors in the conversion process.
Overall, with the right method and correct date format, converting dates to days of the week in Excel is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in a few simple steps.