Intro
Discover how to convert epoch time to human-readable dates in Excel with ease. Learn 5 simple methods to transform Unix timestamps into recognizable date formats. Master epoch to date conversions using Excel formulas, functions, and shortcuts, and enhance your data analysis skills with these quick and easy techniques.
In today's digital age, working with dates and timestamps is a common occurrence, especially when dealing with data from various sources. One of the most common issues that arise is converting epoch time to a human-readable date format in Excel. In this article, we will explore five different methods to convert epoch to date in Excel, making it easier for you to work with timestamps in your spreadsheets.
Epoch time, also known as Unix time, is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC. While epoch time is a convenient way to represent timestamps, it can be difficult to read and understand. Fortunately, Excel provides several methods to convert epoch time to a date format that is easier to work with.
Method 1: Using the EDATE Function
One of the simplest ways to convert epoch time to date in Excel is by using the EDATE function. The EDATE function returns the date that is a specified number of months before or after a given date. To use the EDATE function, you need to divide the epoch time by 86400 (the number of seconds in a day) and then add the result to the date January 1, 1970.
The formula to use is:
=EDATE("1970-01-01",A1/86400)
where A1 is the cell containing the epoch time.
Method 2: Using the DATE Function
Another method to convert epoch time to date in Excel is by using the DATE function. The DATE function returns the date that corresponds to a given year, month, and day. To use the DATE function, you need to divide the epoch time by 86400 (the number of seconds in a day) and then add the result to the date January 1, 1970.
The formula to use is:
=DATE(1970,1,1)+A1/86400
where A1 is the cell containing the epoch time.
Method 3: Using Power Query
Power Query is a powerful tool in Excel that allows you to import, transform, and load data from various sources. One of the features of Power Query is the ability to convert epoch time to date. To use Power Query, you need to create a new query, select the column containing the epoch time, and then apply the "Date" transformation.
Method 4: Using VBA Macro
If you prefer to use VBA macros, you can create a custom function to convert epoch time to date. The function takes the epoch time as input and returns the corresponding date.
The VBA code to use is:
Function EpochToDate(epoch As Long) As Date
EpochToDate = DateAdd("s", epoch, "1970-01-01")
End Function
To use the function, you need to call it from a cell, like this:
=EpochToDate(A1)
where A1 is the cell containing the epoch time.
Method 5: Using Add-ins
Finally, you can use add-ins such as the "Epoch Converter" add-in to convert epoch time to date in Excel. The add-in provides a simple and intuitive interface to convert epoch time to date.
In conclusion, there are several methods to convert epoch time to date in Excel, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. By using the methods outlined in this article, you can easily convert epoch time to a human-readable date format, making it easier to work with timestamps in your spreadsheets.
Gallery of Epoch to Date Conversion Methods
Epoch to Date Conversion Methods
We hope this article has been informative and helpful in your journey to convert epoch time to date in Excel. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.