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System Date/Time set to European but defaulting to US Date/Time in Word and other programs

I have looked at all the settings and they seem properly set to European date and time formats. However when I try to insert a date in MS Word (Mac version) I am only offered US date/time format. This is also happening in other programs. I am using Snow Leopard.
Tks.

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Amick

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dcl120748

ASKER

Thanks Amick, it worked in Word and the points are yours. Just in case you have an idea, the US system date also pushes through into Windows (Parallels 6) in Visual Studio 2008. What I can't understand (new to the Mac) is why bother allowing the user to change date formats if the underlying system date keeps pushing through?
Anyway, thanks again.
DCL

Amick

I'm happy to hear that the immediate problem is solved, and understand your comments about the other issues.

Although it sounds as if you already have this under control, the method for setting the system-wide date format is:

1.On the Apple menu, click System Preferences.
2.Under Personal, click Language & Text.
If the Language & Text button is hidden, click Show All.
3.Click the Formats tab, and then choose the date or time format that you want

and you may want to review this post:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-applications-games/117013-date-localisation-excel-2008-a.html#post986362

I'm on a PC right now and there's a tool in the folder Microsoft Office>Microsoft Office Tools called Microsoft Office Language Settings. This allows setting the available languages and default editing language to be used across all Office applications. I can't confirm that it exists on Office for Mac, but it may be worth investigating. I don't know why Visual Studio won't use the system date format.

Finally, there is the Microsoft forum.
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/mac/search?query=date+format