When i enter 2/20/2006 into a date cell the program always wants to insert an '=' in front of it and try to calculate the division. I have tried different date formats including the custom dd/mm, pasting it from a spreadsheet that works The cell shows as locked but I have turned that off - no change. Any ideas?? They will be appreciated.

I discovered the problem. On the Tools>Options>trasnition tab there is a check off for "transition formula entry".

If this is checked, everything entered on a sheet is automatically interpreted as a mathmatic formula.