The two main reasons for using the text "000-00-0000" format are, appearance
and vlookup's (linked to other text "000-00-000" formated data).

I am just looking for an easy way to convert the numbers without having to
insert a column, run the =text(a1, "000-00-0000") formula and then copy/paste
specials as values over the original data.

Although this is an easy thing to do, I am trying to make it simple for
non-excel experienced users (and safe myself a little time in the process).

"Tom Ogilvy" wrote:

That is why it is called a custom number format. It only *formats* numbers.
A formatted number will still be a number. there is no custom number format
that will convert a number to text.

Without knowing what you are doing, it is unclear why text is the
requirement.

--
Regards,
Tom Ogilvy


"ToddEZ" wrote:

I am sad to say that this did not work.

The problem is leading zeros. 1234 should convert to 000-00-1234, and
12300000 should convert to 123-00-0000.

"JLGWhiz" wrote:

Try:
"###-##-###0"

"ToddEZ" wrote:

I am trying to create a custom number format that does the same thing as
=Text(A1, "000-00-0000"). I suppose an addin might suffice, but I would
perfer a custom number format. "000-00-0000" does not work, because it does
not store the value as text. Any ideas? thanks...