DATE2HDATE_HEB Function (Gnumeric)
Convert a Gregorian date serial to Hebrew-calendar text with Gnumeric DATE2HDATE_HEB, using explicit dates and exact Unicode examples.
Verification status: See the evidence and test scope described in this guide. How formula examples are checked
DATE2HDATE_HEB converts a Gregorian spreadsheet date into a Hebrew-calendar text label written in Hebrew. Unlike the component-based HDATE_HEB function, it accepts one date value, making it convenient for a table that already stores proper spreadsheet dates.
Syntax and date conventions
DATE2HDATE_HEB([date])
date is a Gregorian date value interpreted using the workbook’s date conventions. If omitted, the function uses the current date from the running process. For reproducible examples and historical reports, pass an explicit date.
Use DATE to construct a date from known components instead of entering an ambiguous text such as 03/04/2023. A number that represents a date in one date system is not automatically the same day in another workbook’s date system. Keep date-system assumptions intact when exchanging raw serial numbers.
The result is Hebrew text, not a date serial. Use the original numerical date for arithmetic, sorting, and comparisons, and use the returned label for display.
Worked example: a Hebrew label column
Enter these formulas in a blank sheet:
| Formula | Native result |
|---|---|
=DATE2HDATE_HEB(DATE(2001,3,30)) |
ו׳ בְּנִיסׇן התשס״א |
=DATE2HDATE_HEB(DATE(2023,9,16)) |
א׳ בְּתִּשְׁרֵי התשפ״ד |
The dates correspond to 6 Nisan 5761 and 1 Tishri 5784 respectively. The exact strings include Hebrew punctuation and combining marks, which should be retained when exporting Unicode text.
For an ordinary table, place =DATE(2023,9,16) in A2 and =DATE2HDATE_HEB(A2) in B2. A2 remains the sortable date; B2 is its presentation label. Formatting A2 as a date improves readability but does not alter which serial value is passed to the conversion.
Advanced use: preserve an explicit reporting date
A report header can use DATE2HDATE_HEB() to display the current date, but this is a dynamic label, not an archival date stamp. The function is registered as volatile. A report reopened and recalculated later can therefore differ if it relies on the omitted argument.
For a fixed event or record, store the intended date in an input cell and reference it explicitly. Document the source date alongside the Hebrew label so that readers can resolve disagreements about text rendering or calendar spelling without reverse-parsing the string.
The function does not accept location, time-of-day, or sunset parameters. It is not sufficient on its own to establish a local religious-day boundary. Its purpose is to label the supplied civil date.
Errors and troubleshooting
=DATE2HDATE_HEB("not a date")returned#VALUE!in the native 1.12.57 check. The numeric argument conversion can reject text before the date-conversion helper is reached; do not promise a universal#NUM!for malformed inputs.- Prefer numerical dates constructed by DATE to locale-dependent date strings.
- A displayed string that looks like a date may still be text. Check the source value and how it was imported.
- If Hebrew glyphs appear incorrectly, examine the font, bidirectional presentation, and file encoding. Do not reverse the stored output text manually.
- Do not infer that normalized input components were originally valid. DATE and other date constructors may normalize inputs; validate imported day/month fields according to the workbook’s rules.
Version and verification
Official release notes introduce DATE2HDATE_HEB in Gnumeric 1.10.8. The pinned 1.12.57 source and three actual engine checks under C.UTF-8 were reviewed on 17 October 2026. Valid-date labels and the malformed-text result are verified; GUI presentation and every date-system edge case are not. No retirement or last-supported release is established.