Date formats/values change when file is opened programmatically - excel

Question

I have .csv file which is a time series of daily data, with several data points associated with each date.
When I manually open the file, the dates open correctly, as the date format dd/mm/yyyy.
When I open the file programmatically, the dates up to the 12th of each month are opened as mm/dd/yyyy, although the format remains dd/mm/yyyy (e.g. the 1st of July 1983 (1/7/1983), would be opened as the 7th of January 1983 (7/1/1983) - this isn't just a formatting issue, the Julian Date (days since 1 Jan 1901) associated with these dates also changes), and the dates after the 12th of each month are opened correctly, although as text rather than a date.
The data coming in as text is not an issue, however, the dates changing as soon as the file is opened is problematic. I could try to import the entire .csv file as comma delimited text rather than opening the file, however, it would be easier and faster if I could stop the dates from changing when I open the file.
Flder = InputBox("Copy and Paste Folder path here:")
Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set SourcePath = FSO.GetFolder(Flder)
For Each File In SourcePath.Files
Workbooks.Open (File)
FlNm = File.Name
StrtCol = Workbooks(FlNm).Worksheets(1).Range(Cells(4, 1), Cells(4, 30)).Find ("Mean").Column
Workbooks(FlNm).Worksheets(1).Range(Cells(1, 1), Cells(60000, 1)).Copy (Workbooks("Find Water Years V2.xls").Worksheets(1).Range("A3"))
Workbooks(FlNm).Worksheets(1).Range(Cells(1, StrtCol), Cells(60000, StrtCol + 1)).Copy (Workbooks("Find Water Years V2.xls").Worksheets(1).Range("B3"))
Workbooks(FlNm).Close
Next
The problem seems to occur at the line Workbooks.Open(File).

Answer 1

Since the question has already been answered by the OP in the comments but not posted as an official answer I'll put it here in case someone else misses it like I did.
workbook = workbooks.Open(filename, Local:= true)
By setting Local = true uses the local machines date format rather than assuming mdy so in locales such as Australia (dmy) it'll change the behavior of Open()

Answer 2

I experienced this problem with Office 365.
With importing an csv file with Excel some dates dd/mm/jjjj (European) where imported as American dates mm/dd/jjjj. The csv file doesn't have any formatting of dates closed in.
By opening as follows:
Set xla = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
Set xlb = xla.Workbooks.Open(sFilePath, ReadOnly:=False, Local:=True)
The local settings where used, and problem solved :-)
Other options with opening a file are:
expression.Open (FileName, UpdateLinks, ReadOnly,
Format, Password, WriteResPassword,
IgnoreReadOnlyRecommended, Origin,
Delimiter, Editable, Notify, Converter,
AddToMru, Local, CorruptLoad)

Answer 3

I could try to import the entire .csv file as comma delimited text rather than actually opening the file, however, it would be easier and faster if I could stop the dates from changing when I open the file.
It is still fast if you open it as CDT. You simply use .OpenText instead of .Open. Rest of the code remains same :)
Try recording a macro and you will see that the code looks somewhat like this.
Workbooks.OpenText Filename:= File, _
Origin:=437, StartRow:=1, DataType:=xlDelimited, TextQualifier:= _
xlDoubleQuote, ConsecutiveDelimiter:=False, Tab:=True, Semicolon:=False, _
Comma:=True, Space:=False, Other:=False, FieldInfo:=Array(1, 1), _
TrailingMinusNumbers:=True

Answer 4

I found that user2981639 had the right idea, but I got a syntax error with 'Local: true' so
I used 'local:=True' instead
This problem was driving me nuts because I also had 2 memo fields in the csv file.
If I tried to format the dates in any way the memo fields would not import correctly, they would either be truncated to 255 characters or any embedded CRLF characters would cut the record up into pieces depending on how many there were.
Thanks guys for posting

Answer 5

Here, you see a working code with example. This problem frustrated me as well for a while. I was opening a .txt file in excel and the date I had use for was converting from dd-mm-yyyy format to mm-dd-yyyy format. Below you see a solution. It lay in the last command (,Local := True). See below. Hope it helps.
Note that while trasferring .txt file to excel use File Origin as "xlWindows:
Workbooks.OpenText Filename:= _
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("Reporting").Cells(3, 6), Origin:=xlWindows, _
StartRow:=1, DataType:=xlFixedWidth, FieldInfo:=Array(Array(0, 1), Array(49 _
, 1), Array(50, 1), Array(67, 1), Array(80, 1), Array(93, 1), Array(106, 1), Array(119, 1)) _
, DecimalSeparator:=",", ThousandsSeparator:=".", TrailingMinusNumbers:= _
True, Local:=True
NOTE: rest above settings for array and decimal separator are my work specific - may not apply to you.

Answer 6

I am also struggling to find an answer. However what resolves this problem is.:-
Local should be true.
and workbook close save changes must be false. That should work.

Answer 7

Just had this problem myself and found the above solution
workbook = workbooks.Open(filename, Local:= true)
to be problematic in that it generates an error message. The MS documentation doesn't mention brackets or Workbook =, so I used this:-
Workbooks.Open Path, local:=True
Worked form me, hope it helps you.