If you open a workbook created in an earlier version of Microsoft Excel,
and the workbook contains time data, the formatting for time data in
cells or in charts may be changed from "am/pm" to "AM/PM". For example,
if you create the time "1:00 am" (without the quotation marks) in
cell A1 and you open the workbook in Microsoft Excel 98, cell A1
displays "1:00 AM" (without the quotation marks).
The Microsoft Excel versions that are listed in the "Applies to" section do not support custom number formats in which "AM/PM"
is lowercase. For example, the following format is not supported:
To display "am/pm" in lowercase, change the number formatting to a format
similar to the following
including the quotation marks. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click Cells on the Format menu.
- Click the Number tab.
- In the Category list, click Custom. In the Type box, type the following
h:mm a/p"m"
and then click OK.
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
Excel X and later versions
For more information about custom number formats, follow these steps:
- Click Search Excel Help on the Help menu.
- Type about basic number format codes, and then click Search.
- Click a topic to view it.
Excel 2001
For more information about custom number formats, follow these steps:
- Click Office Assistant.
- Type custom number formats, and then click Search.
- Click a topic to view it.
Note If the
Office Assistant is hidden, click
Office Assistant on the standard toolbar.
Excel 98
For more information about custom number formats, follow these steps:
- On the Help menu, click Contents and Index.
- Click the Index tab in MS Excel Help.
- Type number formats, custom, and then double-click the selected text to view the "Custom number, date, and time format codes" topic.
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