This article explains how to use the Excel DATE function in any version of Excel.

The Excel DATE function combines three values to create a date. When you specify the year, month, and day, Excel produces a serial number that can then be formatted as a normal-looking date.

The usual way to enter a date in Excel is to write the entire date in a single cell, but this is inconvenient if you are working with a lot of information. The DATE function can be useful if the date is not formatted correctly, for example if it is combined with regular text or spread across multiple cells.

Here's how each instance of the Date function must be written so that Excel can process it correctly: