Why can't you select the entire column containing the numbers, select
FormatCellsNumber tab. Select Special from the Category list, select SSN
format and click OK. All of the unformatted numbers should change to the SSN
foprmat.

"ClaireView" wrote:

I have thousands of SSNs that imported to my Excel 2002 document without
formatting. I would like to change them from "123456789" to "123-45-6789."
I researched this, and other postings here instructed me to create a new
column, format the new cells to "Special / Social Security Number," then copy
the unformatted cells using Paste Special and choose Add. This doesn't work.
The format still says it's in SSN format, but the numbers are still
123456789. Please, what am I doing wrong?!!