column A was format as "date"

Formatting only affects the display of the data that you enter, it doesn't
change the underlying data that is entered.

Like I said earlier / right at the onset in this thread:
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If you meant to enter the date: 3 Jan 2008 into A2,
Don't enter the date like this: 1/3 no good, ambiguous
Always enter dates in FULL like this: 3 Jan 2008

Hope the message above percolates through ... eventually
--
Max
Singapore
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xdemechanik
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