How to standardize dates without guessing their meaning
Date normalization makes sorting and comparison easier when the source format is known. The important step is interpreting each original date correctly before changing how it is displayed.
Start with the right material.
- What you provide
- visible dates plus explicit input locale.
- The intended result
- Create ISO-formatted date values and flag ambiguous or invalid entries.
How the workflow works.
Specify the source convention and desired output, such as an unambiguous year-month-day form. Keep original values and flag dates that could have more than one interpretation.
What to check in the result.
Check day and month order, leap days and missing years. A value such as 03/04 cannot be resolved safely without context; a consistent-looking result should not conceal an assumption.
Import the CSV with a consistent delimiter and inspect text identifiers, dates and amounts before using spreadsheet totals. Keep the original file available while checking any automatic type conversion.
Learn from the worked example.
The downloadable CSV example uses these columns: Original date, Input convention, ISO date, Status. Compare a complete record with the source before sorting, combining or importing your own output.
The supplied example is illustrative. It is not a recorded run on your data.
Download the example ↓Use it with your own material.
- Open the source you want to work with and activate WebAct on that tab.
- Copy the task from the hero, add any required fields or preferences, and review the proposed actions.
- Compare the first result with your source. Ask for a specific correction or refinement where needed.