Microsoft Excel provides a multitude of functions that assist in streamlining data organization, computations, and activities related to data. Among these tools, the DATEDIF function is recognized as an effective resource for determining the gap between two dates. Although it isn’t prominently featured in Excel’s function recommendations, DATEDIF is particularly significant in scenarios where you require duration calculations, such as age, employment length, or project schedules.
In this article, we will guide you through the DATEDIF function in Excel: its definition, purpose, syntax, diverse applications, and optimal practices. Let’s commence!
The DATEDIF function in Excel assists in finding the difference between two dates. It can compute the number of years, months, or days separating those dates. This function proves useful for tasks such as calculating a person’s age, evaluating the duration of a project, or assessing time spans.
Despite its effectiveness within Excel, DATEDIF is classified as an undocumented function. This indicates that it does not feature in the standard list of Excel’s built-in functions, and finding direct assistance regarding it in Excel can be limited. Moreover, supplying incorrect dates, such as an end date preceding a start date, will prompt an error in the DATEDIF function.
Syntax for DATEDIF function
The syntax for the DATEDIF function is outlined below:
DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, unit)
Where,
start_date: Denotes the starting date in a valid date format.
end_date: Denotes the concluding date in a valid date format.
Unit: Refers to the text string that specifies the type of data you wish to obtain.
Next, let’s discuss the various types of units:
“Y”: Indicates the count of complete years between the start and end dates.
“M”: Indicates the count of complete months between the start and end dates.
“D”: Denotes the total number of days between the start and end dates.
“MD”: Reveals the difference between the start and end dates while ignoring months and years.
“YM”: Indicates the difference in months between the start and end dates while disregarding days and years.
“YD”: Shows the difference between the start and end dates while ignoring the complete years.
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To gain a comprehensive understanding of how the DATEDIF function is implemented in Excel, let’s explore some examples.
Example 1: Calculating the total days between the start and end dates
Let us compute the total days from May 10, 2015, to July 10, 2017.
Next, we will utilize the formula “=DATEDIF(start_date,end_date, unit)”.
Substitute start_date with “10/5/2015”, end_date with “10/7/2017”, and the unit with “d”.
Now, hit “Enter” to compute the total days between the start_date and the end_date. The result will show the total days as 733.
You can also input start_date and end_date as 10/5/2015 and 10/7/2017, respectively, and the answer will still be 733.
Example 2: To compute the number of weeks between
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The commencement date and the conclusion date
Imagine you possess a registry of debtors with outstanding amounts. Now, simply compute the total days from the due date, which is July 31, 2017.
Next, let’s employ the formula “=DATEDIF(commencement_date, conclusion_date, unit)”.
Substitute commencement_date with B2,conclusion_date with C2, and unit with d. This will yield the count of days for your outcomes.
For determining the count of weeks, write =(DATEDIF(commencement_date, conclusion_date, “d”)/7).
Example 3: To ascertain the total months between the commencement date and conclusion date
To figure out the total months between dates, utilize the DATEDIF function with “M”.
For calculating the overall months, apply the formula “=DATEDIF(commencement_date, conclusion_date, “m”)”
Now, if you wish to disregard years, the formula to be utilized is =DATEDIF(commencement_date, conclusion_date, “ym”).
Example 4: To Calculate the Anniversary Date
Imagine a floral shop needs to dispatch bouquets to clients on an anniversary date. You need to compute the anniversary date. The details are provided below:
You should implement the equation =EDATE(B5,(DATEDIF(date,as_of,”y”)+1)*12)
The outcome you will receive is:
Benefits of Utilizing DATEDIF in Excel
Some of the benefits of employing DATEDIF in Excel are listed below:
Flexibility in Date Evaluations: In Excel, the DATEDIF function allows you to ascertain the difference between two dates in days, months, or years. It can be beneficial for tasks such as determining an individual’s age, monitoring project durations, or assessing the time interval between occurrences.
Simplicity and User-Friendly: The DATEDIF function in Excel is user-friendly even if you lack expertise in Excel. You merely need three components: a start date, an end date, and the metric you wish to evaluate (like days, months, or years).
Uses of DATEDIF in Excel
The uses of DATEDIF in Excel are outlined below:
Financial Evaluation: It aids in analyzing borrowing durations, investment timelines, and interest calculations.
Healthcare: It is also useful for tracking patient ages, treatment lengths, and follow-up schedules.
Project Oversight: DATEDIF can assist in determining project schedules, due dates, and durations.
Human Resources: It helps in assessing ages, tenures, and retirement qualifications.
Optimal Practices for Using DATEDIF Effectively
Combine with Today(): Utilizing TODAY() at the end serves as the conclusion date, facilitating the creation of dynamic age or tenure calculations.
Incorporation of IF Statements: If you aim to construct more logical functions, you can nest DATEDIF within IF(). This will enable you to manage outputs based on duration benchmarks.
Proper Formatting is Crucial: Always ensure that referenced cells are in valid date formats.
Consider Leap Years: DATEDIF manages leap years internally. This improves accuracy compared to certain manual methods for date calculations.
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Though it has a subtle role in Excel, the DATEDIF function is a crucial resource for managing dates. It enables precise and clean calculations for age, duration of service, and various time-related metrics. Grasping its syntax, units, and optimal practices is essential. This knowledge will enhance your efficiency in managing date differences. To fully comprehend its applications, experimenting with diverse scenarios is key.
DATEDIF Formula in Excel – Common Questions
Q1. Why isn’t DATEDIF found in Excel’s function list or autocomplete options?
DATEDIF is absent from the lineup of Excel functions or during autocomplete because it is an older and concealed function in Excel. The software was originally designed for use with Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets. Even though it operates in the latest Excel versions, Microsoft has opted not to officially feature it in its function library or suggest it automatically.
Q2. What occurs if I submit an invalid unit in the DATEDIF function?
If you input an invalid unit that doesn’t comply with the DATEDIF function, Excel will produce a #VALUE! Error.
Q3. Can DATEDIF function across different time zones or regional settings?
You may apply date formats such as yyyy-mm-dd, which help avoid date errors in Excel caused by regional differences.
Q4. Is it viable to use DATEDIF to show both years and months in a single outcome?
DATEDIF provides one time unit at a time, or you can combine “Y” with “YM” to present results as “Years and Months.”
Q5. What action should I take if DATEDIF generates a negative value or error?
You should utilize IF() if DATEDIF results in a negative value error.
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