The main problem is that Excel will convert numeric data into numbers unless
it knows that they should be treated as text. The solution to this problem
depends on how the data is getting into your spreadsheet. If you are copying
and pasting the data into the spreadsheet, you can (prior to pasting), format
the area that you are pasting to as text and Excel will not remove the
leading zeros while it pastes the data. If you are loading text files the
import wizard gives you the option to specify the data type for each column
of data you are importing.

Another problem is that it sounds as if the data you already have in your
Excel sheet has been converted to numbers, and the leading zeros are already
gone. You will have to fix these or reload them as text.

HTH,

TK

"Dave B." wrote:

I am using several excel sheet to report on a rather large PO system. Many
customers have preceding zeros on their POs, while others do not, and being
that different customers have several different numbering systems, I cant
just arbitrarily format all cells a certain way. So,to avoid further
headaches, can I diable the built in formatting that wants to delete
preceding zeros? If so, can someone tell me how this is done please.
Thankyou.