=text(a1,"(###)###-####")
drag down
and edit|copy, edit|paste special|values

is another alternative.

Brant Nyman wrote:

I have phone number data that has been entered into a column as ##########
with no (###)###-#### formatting. I have used format cellsnumbercustom and
then entered (###)###-#### to change how the fields are displayed. I'm
trying to find a way to modify the base data so that the formatted brackets
and dash from the phone number appear in the data not just in the field
formatting. I tried pasting values but that didn't work. Any ideas?

--

Dave Peterson