# DATEVALUE

Spread for WinForms provides advanced software components that support Excel import/export, full cell customization, an extensive calculation engine with over 450 functions and more, all with zero dependencies on Excel.

## Content

This function returns the serial number of a date entered as text.

## Syntax

DATEVALUE(*date\_string*)

## Arguments

The argument for this function is a date as a string.

## Remarks

Use this function to convert a date represented by a text string to an Excel serial number that can be used to perform calculations.

## Data Types

Accepts string data. Returns an excel serial number as date.

## Examples

`DATEVALUE(B18)`
`DATEVALUE(R18C2)`
`DATEVALUE("2019/02/13")` gives the result 43509.

## Version Available

This function is available in product version 1.0 or later. 

> !type=note
> **Note:** If a user uses LegacyBehaviors.CalculationEngine, DATEVALUE function will return the DateTime object instead of the serial numeric value.

## See Also

[DATE](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-formula/formulas-functionsall/formulas-functsDtoG/FunctionDATE) \| [TIMEVALUE](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-formula/formulas-functionsall/formulas-functsTtoZ/FunctionTIMEVALUE) \| [Date and Time Functions](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-formula/formulas-overview/formulas-functs/formulas-functtypes/formulas-functsdatetime)