Before typing the number, select the cells (or columns or rows) and then:

Format Cells... Number and select Text

Excel will then leave you data alone.

Good Luck
--
Gary's Student


"Randall Clark" wrote:

I am setting up a "tab-delimited" file to import into another program. The
file is to import "Titles" for Television. Each "Title" carries a length that
is measured in HH:MM:SS. When I input these numbers into the cell, they get
converted to a date with a clock time EXAMPLE 40:46:00 turns into "1/2/1904
4:46:00 PM". I just want to put in 46:46:00 and have it stay as
"text"......HELP ME PLEASE