diff --git a/src/zcl_excel_writer_csv.clas.abap b/src/zcl_excel_writer_csv.clas.abap
index 23f6853..7aa976b 100644
--- a/src/zcl_excel_writer_csv.clas.abap
+++ b/src/zcl_excel_writer_csv.clas.abap
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ CLASS zcl_excel_writer_csv DEFINITION
 
     INTERFACES zif_excel_writer .
 
+    "! Default value for initial dates e.g. user's format (DD.MM.YYYY, MM.DD.YYYY, etc.)
+    CONSTANTS c_default TYPE c LENGTH 10 VALUE 'DEFAULT' ##NO_TEXT.
+
     CLASS-METHODS set_delimiter
       IMPORTING
         VALUE(ip_value) TYPE c DEFAULT ';' .
@@ -24,7 +27,10 @@ CLASS zcl_excel_writer_csv DEFINITION
     CLASS-METHODS set_active_sheet_index_by_name
       IMPORTING
         !i_worksheet_name TYPE zexcel_worksheets_name .
-*"* protected components of class ZCL_EXCEL_WRITER_2007
+    CLASS-METHODS set_initial_ext_date
+      IMPORTING
+        !ip_value TYPE char10 DEFAULT c_default .
+*"* protected components of class ZCL_EXCEL_WRITER_CSV
 *"* do not include other source files here!!!
   PROTECTED SECTION.
 *"* private components of class ZCL_EXCEL_WRITER_CSV
@@ -38,6 +44,7 @@ CLASS zcl_excel_writer_csv DEFINITION
       eol TYPE c LENGTH 2 VALUE cl_abap_char_utilities=>cr_lf ##NO_TEXT.
     CLASS-DATA worksheet_name TYPE zexcel_worksheets_name .
     CLASS-DATA worksheet_index TYPE zexcel_active_worksheet .
+    CLASS-DATA initial_ext_date TYPE char10 VALUE c_default.
 
     METHODS create
       RETURNING
@@ -53,7 +60,7 @@ ENDCLASS.
 
 
 
-CLASS zcl_excel_writer_csv IMPLEMENTATION.
+CLASS ZCL_EXCEL_WRITER_CSV IMPLEMENTATION.
 
 
   METHOD create.
@@ -220,24 +227,28 @@ CLASS zcl_excel_writer_csv IMPLEMENTATION.
       CASE <fs_sheet_content>-data_type.
 
         WHEN 'd' OR 'D'.
-          lc_value = zcl_excel_common=>excel_string_to_date( ip_value = <fs_sheet_content>-cell_value ).
-          TRY.
-              lv_date = lc_value.
-              CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERT_DATE_TO_EXTERNAL'
-                EXPORTING
-                  date_internal            = lv_date
-                IMPORTING
-                  date_external            = lv_tmp
-                EXCEPTIONS
-                  date_internal_is_invalid = 1
-                  OTHERS                   = 2.
-              IF sy-subrc = 0.
-                lc_value = lv_tmp.
-              ENDIF.
+          IF <fs_sheet_content>-cell_value IS INITIAL AND initial_ext_date <> c_default.
+            lc_value = initial_ext_date.
+          ELSE.
+            lc_value = zcl_excel_common=>excel_string_to_date( ip_value = <fs_sheet_content>-cell_value ).
+            TRY.
+                lv_date = lc_value.
+                CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERT_DATE_TO_EXTERNAL'
+                  EXPORTING
+                    date_internal            = lv_date
+                  IMPORTING
+                    date_external            = lv_tmp
+                  EXCEPTIONS
+                    date_internal_is_invalid = 1
+                    OTHERS                   = 2.
+                IF sy-subrc = 0.
+                  lc_value = lv_tmp.
+                ENDIF.
 
-            CATCH cx_sy_conversion_no_number.
+              CATCH cx_sy_conversion_no_number.
 
-          ENDTRY.
+            ENDTRY.
+          ENDIF.
 
         WHEN 't' OR 'T'.
           lc_value = zcl_excel_common=>excel_string_to_time( ip_value = <fs_sheet_content>-cell_value ).
@@ -302,6 +313,11 @@ CLASS zcl_excel_writer_csv IMPLEMENTATION.
   ENDMETHOD.
 
 
+  METHOD set_initial_ext_date.
+    initial_ext_date = ip_value.
+  ENDMETHOD.
+
+
   METHOD zif_excel_writer~write_file.
     me->excel = io_excel.
     ep_file = me->create( ).
diff --git a/src/zcl_excel_writer_csv.clas.xml b/src/zcl_excel_writer_csv.clas.xml
index 2a13c78..7b1d8ad 100644
--- a/src/zcl_excel_writer_csv.clas.xml
+++ b/src/zcl_excel_writer_csv.clas.xml
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@
      <LANGU>I</LANGU>
      <DESCRIPT>Create CSV ; Delimited format</DESCRIPT>
     </SEOCOMPOTX>
+    <SEOCOMPOTX>
+     <CMPNAME>C_DEFAULT</CMPNAME>
+     <LANGU>E</LANGU>
+     <DESCRIPT>Constant for string &apos;DEFAULT&apos;</DESCRIPT>
+    </SEOCOMPOTX>
     <SEOCOMPOTX>
      <CMPNAME>DELIMITER</CMPNAME>
      <LANGU>E</LANGU>
@@ -72,6 +77,11 @@
      <LANGU>I</LANGU>
      <DESCRIPT>Excel creator</DESCRIPT>
     </SEOCOMPOTX>
+    <SEOCOMPOTX>
+     <CMPNAME>INITIAL_EXT_DATE</CMPNAME>
+     <LANGU>E</LANGU>
+     <DESCRIPT>Initial External Date</DESCRIPT>
+    </SEOCOMPOTX>
     <SEOCOMPOTX>
      <CMPNAME>SET_ACTIVE_SHEET_INDEX</CMPNAME>
      <LANGU>E</LANGU>
@@ -122,6 +132,11 @@
      <LANGU>I</LANGU>
      <DESCRIPT>Set End Of Line character</DESCRIPT>
     </SEOCOMPOTX>
+    <SEOCOMPOTX>
+     <CMPNAME>SET_INITIAL_EXT_DATE</CMPNAME>
+     <LANGU>E</LANGU>
+     <DESCRIPT>Set Initial External Date (replacing default &apos;00.00.0000&apos;)</DESCRIPT>
+    </SEOCOMPOTX>
     <SEOCOMPOTX>
      <CMPNAME>WORKSHEET_INDEX</CMPNAME>
      <LANGU>E</LANGU>
@@ -143,6 +158,14 @@
      <DESCRIPT>Worksheets name</DESCRIPT>
     </SEOCOMPOTX>
    </DESCRIPTIONS>
+   <DESCRIPTIONS_SUB>
+    <SEOSUBCOTX>
+     <CMPNAME>SET_INITIAL_EXT_DATE</CMPNAME>
+     <SCONAME>IP_VALUE</SCONAME>
+     <LANGU>E</LANGU>
+     <DESCRIPT>Input Value</DESCRIPT>
+    </SEOSUBCOTX>
+   </DESCRIPTIONS_SUB>
   </asx:values>
  </asx:abap>
 </abapGit>