Is there a way to avoid the translation of a number into date, when pasting?

[wardjdim]

Hello all

When I am pasting a football score (e.g. "2-1") from an online score site to an excel cell, then it automatically translates it to a date ("02-Jan"). If I pre-select the cells that interest me and, after right-clicking on them, I select "format cells" and then "number" or "general, it again doesn't change the format and it requires manual change of the format on the cells. If I do that, it gives me the hypothetical day "40545" that the "02-Jan" would be

All I want is to paste the 2-1 and the system to automatically read it as "2-1" and nothing else. I have tried any way possible and it isn't working. On a previous version of Windows Vista, it was working with "Paste Special", but the whole process was taking even longer than formatting the cells manually after every paste

Right now I have Windows XP and Excel 2003 at work and I also have Windows 7 and Excel 2007 at home

Is there a way on either of the two system (preferably on both) to manage that without wasting my time in manually formatting the cells and then writing the correct score every time I am pasting something?

Thank you very much and I hope that there is some online plugin or something I haven't thought about

 

[VoG]

Try

=DAY(A1)&"-"&MONTH(A1)

 

[wardjdim]

Both are really good tips

Indeed, I will explain myself better

There are three cases

1)The first team scoring 1-12 goals and the other team scoring 13 or more
2) The first team scoring 13 or more goals and the 2nd team scoring between 1 and 12
3) Both teams scoring between 1 and 12 goals

The two tips you gave me now are great for the 1st and 3rd case but not for the 2nd

For some reason, Excel keeps on reading a potent score "2-13" as "1st of February of 2013", so instead of "2-13", one will get the hypothesis of "01-Feb" and on the help-cell, they will get "1-2"

But for the other two cases, these two types are splendid

Thanks a lot guys, this is really great help!

 

[How_Do_I]

I’m not really sure if this will help you in your scnario however, I input my scores manually in my book and then use import data to get a football league table to check that all the data in my book is correct.
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When I set this up I use Data>Import External Data>New Web Query. There’s an Options Button on the screen that appears… I tick disable date recognition and encounter no problems with 1-2 becoming a date.

 

[wardjdim]

That's a very nice thought, thank you

After I have the scores pasted, I will import the table to see whether there is a difference in the standings or total goals scored

Thanks a lot for this