If you only wish to have the cell appear that way

Format/Cells/Number and select Custom from the Category Window and enter
"00000" (without the ""'s)

HTH

PC




"Alan" wrote in message
...
You can Format the cell as text, (Right click the cell, 'Format Cells'
'Number' check 'Text') before you enter the value, or prefix the number
with '
like '015472. The ' will show in the formula bar, but not in the cell.
Note
that if you do this the number will be text, not a true number and certain
functions may not behave as expected.
Regards,
Alan.
"sphilip" wrote in message
...
when i type in 00098 & ENTER or TAB the 000 disappears & only 98
appears.
How
do i get all of 00098 to appear.

we use excel 2000.

cheers