# Excel Reader ignoring data when date() is in cells **URL:** \ **Category:** KNIME Analytics Platform\ **Created:** [May 12, 2026, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/excel-reader-ignoring-data-when-date-is-in-cells/91921 "2026-05-12T19:01:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![temp02\_verizon](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@temp02\_verizon](https://forum.knime.com/u/temp02_verizon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/excel-reader-ignoring-data-when-date-is-in-cells/91921/1 "2026-05-12T19:01:53Z")
I have an Excel file where some columns have data that contains the date() function. The Excel reader is showing that as missing values. Is there a way to have Knime read this properly? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![rfeigel](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7ea924/32.png) [@rfeigel](https://forum.knime.com/u/rfeigel)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/excel-reader-ignoring-data-when-date-is-in-cells/91921/2 "2026-05-13T03:22:20Z")
Do you have the date columns formatted as date rather than General or text? It would be helpful if you could share some sample data. ---
**Author:** ![mlauber71](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/user_avatar/forum.knime.com/mlauber71/32/73590_2.png) [@mlauber71](https://forum.knime.com/u/mlauber71)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 6:43am UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/excel-reader-ignoring-data-when-date-is-in-cells/91921/3 "2026-05-13T06:43:36Z")
@temp02_verizon you can try and force KNIME to re-evaluate your formula on start (under advanced settings). Maybe you can provide and example where this does not work so we could have a look. ![image](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/uploads/default/original/3X/2/f/2fbefccd5d91fb733236e3e3bad18aa40f01ff37.png) > **[Excel - Date Formula in Cell – mlauber71](https://hub.knime.com/mlauber71/spaces/Examples/Excel%20-%20Date%20Formula%20in%20Cell~az9tt1FRedQKjOLO/current-state)** > > Import Excel Sheet with formulas If you need further ideas how to do such calculations here are several approaches using Java and Python > [@Write to Excel Template not updating specific cells with formula](https://forum.knime.com/t/write-to-excel-template-not-updating-specific-cells-with-formula/83289/7): > > @takbb currently this will only run on Windows it seems. The Java paths are different on a Mac. I modified it so as to extract a plugin path from the osgi.syspath with the help of [Extract System Properties](https://hub.knime.com/n/B7pYx0PMtAUPb_Z9) node: Maybe you can take a look if this will work on a Windows machine (I can check on mine in a few days). [image] ---
**Author:** ![temp02\_verizon](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@temp02\_verizon](https://forum.knime.com/u/temp02_verizon)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/excel-reader-ignoring-data-when-date-is-in-cells/91921/4 "2026-05-13T16:54:29Z")
BY default, I set all columns to string, which I can only do if the “when schema in file has changed” is set to “fail”. (I do this mainly for numeric fields which I prefer to handle as strings, date format fields generally are fine left as date, but old habits die hard) The Excel file is structured as follows with columns 4, 6, and 7 formatted as DATE and contain formulas using the Date() When I initially open the Excel reader properties (after setting all columns as string), notice that columns 4, 6, and 7 now appear at the end and show the data as missing values (?) If I change settings for “when schema in file has changed” to “use new schema” and “reevaluate formulas”, the columns now appear in correct order and the dates are present ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/uploads/default/original/1X/ab3ccf34482a0329361734a18199390177204f15.png) [@system](https://forum.knime.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/excel-reader-ignoring-data-when-date-is-in-cells/91921/5 "2026-08-11T16:55:13Z")
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.