[Solved] Unable to display date as DD/MMM

[darkspark222]

OpenOffice 4.1.15 on Windows 10
For the very first time I have downloaded my bank statement as a CSV file instead of a PDF. I have opened it in Calc but am unable to change the column 'Date' format to show for example 26 Jul instead of 26 Jul 2024. I have tried changing it using Format Cells (Date > 31/Dec > DD/MMM) but it totally ignores my instruction.
I would be very grateful for any assistance/advice, TIA

[MrProgrammer]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. I moved your topic to the Calc forum.

have opened it in Calc but am unable to change the column 'Date' format to show for example 26 Jul instead of 26 Jul 2024.

Date formatting is a numeric format and applies only to cells containing numbers. I suspect that your cells contain text, perhaps due to an incorrect import from the CSV file. Numeric formats do not apply to cells containing text. Read the following tutorial and import your data again, making sure use Detect Special Numbers and to assign a date for the Column Type in the Text Import dialog.
[Tutorial] Text to Columns

The following tutorial discusses the difference between numbers and text and explains how dates work in Calc. You may find Calc difficult to use until you understand this material.
[Tutorial] Ten concepts that every Calc user should know

If you need any additional assistance attach a spreadsheet demonstrating the difficulty (remove confidential information then use Post Reply, not Quick Reply, and don't attach a picture instead of the spreadsheet itself). If the problem is the CSV import, it will help if you show us the first few lines of the CSV file so we can see its structure. Half a dozen is plenty.

This topic describes a similar situation: [Solved] Calc does not recognize Jan-01-2021 as a date

If this solved your problem please go to your first post use the Edit ☐ button and add [Solved] to the start of the Subject field. Select the green checkmark icon at the same time.

[darkspark222]

Thank you for the speedy reply to my problem. You were correct, the date in the csv has been entered as text.
As a bit of a novice in these matters, I have read through the info you sent but have fallen at the first fence - 'making sure use Detect Special Numbers and to assign a date for the Column Type in the Text Import dialog'. I have tried searching the Help in OpenOffice but drawn a blank. Have I bitten off more than I can chew, or are you able to provide a simple set of steps to take.
I have trimmed the original csv to six lines as you asked.

Regards and Thank You in Advance

[DiGro]

Open a new spreadsheet.
Choose File > Open
Localize the file that you want to import in Calc
Double-click on the file to import it.
The Text import dialog opens

Text_import dialog.png (39.56 KiB) Viewed 1892 times

You can also change the Column type from Standard to Date, if you want

[MrProgrammer]

[I] have fallen at the first fence - 'making sure use Detect Special Numbers and to assign a date for the Column Type in the Text Import dialog'.

Detect Special Numbers is mentioned several places in the Text to Columns tutorial. Setting the Column Type is explained in its paragraph beginning After indicating your fields. You would not have needed to ask the question and would be on your way to solving the problem if you had read the tutorial that I linked for you. I have no difficulty opening ADAMSONBA_Tester.csv as long as I set each Column Type correctly. I can change the date format when the dates are not text. There are hundreds of topics in the forum from people who have difficulty because they imported CSV and just took all of the defaults in the Text Import dialog. This is one more. Read the tutorial.

[darkspark222]

Worked a treat - Hartelijk dank