Timestamp - Won't convert to serial

[finnexcel]

I have an excel sheet related to orders.

I am trying to work out the difference between two timestamps that look like the below.

30/03/2012*23:54:00
30/03/2012*23:38:00

Im in UK - hence formatting. I just cant get them to convert to serials.

I have tried using text to columns to shave off the seconds - and then format > custom> dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm etc...

I also tried starting a new custom format to incorporate seconds.

Tried a =now() and got timestamp below.

31/03/2012 10:32

Any Idea what I'm doing wrong? - been searching for ages.

 

[FormR]

Or using a formula:

Excel Workbook
	A	B
1	30/03/2012 23:54:00	30/03/2012 23:54
Sheet1

 

[finnexcel]

Thanks guys - works perfectly

You are the best!