How to convert a Python datetime.datetime to excel serial date number

This article will discuss the conversion of a python datetime.datetime to an excel serial date number. The Excel "serial date" format is actually the number of days since 1900-01-00. The strftime() function is used to convert date and time objects to their string representation. It takes one or more inputs of formatted code and returns the string representation.

Syntax:

strftime(format)

Parameters: This function accepts a parameter which is illustrated below:

• format: This is the specified format code in which the given date and time object is going to be represented.

Return values: It returns the string representation of the date or time object.

Example 1: In the example below, the current date and time are being converted into the excel serial date number. And the returned output will be in the format of '08/23/21 15:15:53' which is accepted by Excel as a valid date/time and allows for sorting in Excel.

Output:

08/23/21 15:15:53

If we need the excel serial date number in the form of a date value, then this can be done using the toordinal() function.

Example 2: Serial number in a form of a date value

Output:

44229

Example: In the below example, the "2021-05-04" date is being converted into the excel serial date number with reference to the 1899-12-30 date.

Output:

44231.0