I found the answer:
In an empty cell, enter the number 1.
Select the cell, and on the Edit menu, click Copy.
Select the range of numbers stored as text you want to convert.
On the Edit menu, click Paste Special.
Under Operation, click Multiply.
Click OK.
Delete the content of the cell entered in the first step.

Thanks,
Ellen

"Ellen" wrote:

Hello,
I have a column of numbers that have the comment "The number in this cell is
formatted as text or preceded by an apostrophe". I'd like to convert all
these these values to numbers so I can get a summation. By mousing over the
cell I can get a menu that allows me to convert the numbers one at a time,
but how can I convert them all at once?

I've tried converting with the Format/Cells and Edit/Copy/PasteSpecial/values.

Thanks in advance,
Ellen