Datastream Event studies: Calculating dates for Request Table

I have always found it complicated and tedious to do an event study in Datastream. Not only does the request table not understand dates coming from Excel, working with large work sets makes the request table destination dsimply annoying. Needless to say I tried to avoid it.

Calculating dates in Excel
For instance event dates using formulas =(cell number+X) and =(cell number-X), where X is the number of days that has be added or subtracted. The next step would've been copying the dates into a new work sheet and paste it as a number, next convert the numbers into dates save the sheet as a .TXT file, close and open the .TXT files as text. Those dates would finally be understood by the Request table menu.

Calculated dates around the event date
Formula =(cell number+30) or =(cell number-30) > =(A1+30) and =(A1-30)
Use the + in the right bottom of the corner to drag the calculated date

Examples of the old method

Using calculated dates (blog Mark Bruyneel)
Specific event studies (blog Mark Bruyneel)
On the VU Blackboard an instructive video can be found

Since my work demands explaining the process to our students, I was very happy to learn from a very bright student - Aart Bijkerk - that things can be made considerably easier.
Using the Excel formula
=Tekst(cell number;"dd-mm-jjjj") (Dutch)
or =Text(cell number;"dd-mm-yyyy") (English)
the dates are ready made for the request table and can be copied into Request table without copying and saving as TXT.

Important:
!! Copy the dates and PASTE (right click) paste special (values) into the Request Table menu !!

Data Destination is next

See also: Datastream Event Studies: calculating destination cells in Request Table (link)