Stop auto correction of number into a date

it is not Norwegian Excel date format.  In 2003 you could work around this for all sheets and especially if you created a master sheet, so it always uploaded your features and not the MS defaults.

Unfortuantely they screwed with this feature in 2007 and maintained the @#@%#@ 2010 and will probably defend themselves. 

HELLO MICROSOFT I AM A POWER EXCELL USER AND I DO NOT CALCULATE OFF DATES FOR MY WORK, SO IT IS A TOTAL INCONVENIENCE FOR THE PROGRAM TO EVEN ASSUME I AM INPUTING A DATE. 

The only two work arounds. cause us work:

1. make a macro that defines every cell in a non-date format.   Then it is a double click to protect your sheets.   You probably should put all the other defaults over-rides as well (I like grid on and landscape and a different page size).  [I need numbers not strings or the program is worthless, so defining everything as a string is useless suggestion].
2. import into preformatted sheets,  which is easier if you make the macro in 1)  
3. KEEP TELLING MICROSOFT TO GET OFF THEIR MICROSOFT BUTTS AND ADD A SIMPLE OVER RIDE CHECK BOX TO PREVENTS DEFAULT DATE FORMATING and maybe someday they will listen to the customer.

I have since found for my purpose, that using the "Text to Columns" feature in the Data tab does work for me to remove the apostrophe and retain the data integrity of the product numbers by formatting the entire column to Text.  However, often times this in turn jacks with my VLOOKUP by not recognizing the item and returning a blank cell.  If you search fixes for this, the answer is to use the General format for VLOOKUPS.  However, once you have made the column Text format, even changing it back to General at that point does not correct the issue that I have with VLOOKUP and I continue to get a blank cell at that point.  And, all of this is alot of extra steps when ultimately it would be so much more user friendly to just be able to turn of the auto-date feature prior to starting my work with the spreadsheets in the first place.

If you want to use Excel, you will need to learn to work within its specifications.

To prevent Excel from modifying your data, you will need to pre-format the cells as text.  If you are importing a file, however, you cannot just "open" the file.  You will need to ensure the Text to columns wizard opens before you import the file.  In order to do that, you will need to select "Get External Data / From Text" under the Data Ribbon.

This behavior has been present in Excel for many versions, at least in the US version.  I cannot explain your observations regarding the Norwegian version.

Gee Ron, I find your response quite defensive as if you were the one personally responsible for this design flaw yourself.  Also, pretty offended by the condesension of your tone.  Just because folks point out a bug with the program (that obviously more than a few users are taking issue with), you seem to suggest that this is merely a result of "operator error" and that essentially we all need more training with Excel?  I would say that people who are power users, working with macros, and depend on the program day in and day out to complete their work ARE working within the programs specifications, however unsuccessfully.  Unfortunately the bottom line is that the current specifications do not adequately meet the needs of the end users.  Perhaps if you put as much passion into fixing the problem as defending the status quo, this thread wouldn't be dragging on for years and years without resolution.......

As for your solution listed above, I have tried this as well. I begin with a spreadsheet that is pre-formatted as text.  I then copied and pasted my data as values only, as to retain the text formatting but move the data to the new sheet.  At that point, I would use the "Text to Columns" feature to remove the apostrophe from my CSV generated part codes.  I then have the option within that feature to keep Text or change to General.  Changing to General results in the same issue of numbers auto-converting to dates.  Keeping the column as Text then results in the VLOOKUP issues I discussed previously, returning a blank cell for those items.  All in all, a no-win situation for me, and also proves that particular solution obviously doesn't work in all situations.  The funny thing is, a simple check box to disable the feature would fix the problem for everyone's use in a very uncomplicated way.  I don't understand what the resistance is.  It reeks of arrogance set forth by the programmers of Microsoft, incapable of admitting their work can be improved upon by creating additional features for the program.