The procedure you have described should convert numbers stored as text to
numbers...
If you want to show only decimal place then after converting the range from
text to numbers choose Format-Cells and then specify the number of decimals
you want under Number format...

Instead of adding blank you can also multiply with 1 - enter 1 somewhere,
copy the cell and then paste special-multiply

"Davidm" wrote:

I am having trouble formating text to numbers. I tried copy a blank cell then
select area that I want formatted to numbers to 1 decimal place and then
paste special - Add and it worked fine the first time. But it wont seem to
work now after the first time no matter what I do.
What am I doing wrong. Even tried qiutting out of excel and restarted and
tried on another worksheet still no go

any help appreciated
Dave