Why does excel turn numbers larger than 15 digits to zero?
 

When I type any number into excel that is greater than 15 digits, it turns
all the remaining numbers to zero. For instance, if I enter 4444555566667777
excel throws it into scientific format. When I turn it back to a number the
number is now 4444555566667770.

Any Idea why this is, and how I can make it stop?

Why does excel turn numbers larger than 15 digits to zero?
 

Excel's numerical precision is 15 decimal digits.
If you need more, like for credit card numbers, format the cell as text before entering the "number" or precede the number by an
apostrophe (which will not show)
Note that you van not calculate with these text-"numbers"

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Aaron" wrote in message ...
| When I type any number into excel that is greater than 15 digits, it turns
| all the remaining numbers to zero. For instance, if I enter 4444555566667777
| excel throws it into scientific format. When I turn it back to a number the
| number is now 4444555566667770.
|
| Any Idea why this is, and how I can make it stop?

Why does excel turn numbers larger than 15 digits to zero?
 

Thank you for such a quick response Niek,

but... my group frequently deals with .csv files that when you open then, it
automatically sends the text to columns without allowing the option to turn
the long fields to text.

Is there an alternate way to open the file so it does not automatically send
text to columns without asking?

"Niek Otten" wrote:

Excel's numerical precision is 15 decimal digits.
If you need more, like for credit card numbers, format the cell as text before entering the "number" or precede the number by an
apostrophe (which will not show)
Note that you van not calculate with these text-"numbers"

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Aaron" wrote in message ...
| When I type any number into excel that is greater than 15 digits, it turns
| all the remaining numbers to zero. For instance, if I enter 4444555566667777
| excel throws it into scientific format. When I turn it back to a number the
| number is now 4444555566667770.
|
| Any Idea why this is, and how I can make it stop?

Why does excel turn numbers larger than 15 digits to zero?
 

rename the .csv file a .txt file. That will pop-up a wizard on opening. There you can choose the cells to be text.

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel


"Aaron" wrote in message ...
| Thank you for such a quick response Niek,
|
| but... my group frequently deals with .csv files that when you open then, it
| automatically sends the text to columns without allowing the option to turn
| the long fields to text.
|
| Is there an alternate way to open the file so it does not automatically send
| text to columns without asking?
|
| "Niek Otten" wrote:
|
| Excel's numerical precision is 15 decimal digits.
| If you need more, like for credit card numbers, format the cell as text before entering the "number" or precede the number by
an
| apostrophe (which will not show)
| Note that you van not calculate with these text-"numbers"
|
| --
| Kind regards,
|
| Niek Otten
| Microsoft MVP - Excel
|
| "Aaron" wrote in message ...
| | When I type any number into excel that is greater than 15 digits, it turns
| | all the remaining numbers to zero. For instance, if I enter 4444555566667777
| | excel throws it into scientific format. When I turn it back to a number the
| | number is now 4444555566667770.
| |
| | Any Idea why this is, and how I can make it stop?
|
|
|

Why does excel turn numbers larger than 15 digits to zero?
 

Change the *.csv extension to *.txt

When opening, the Text to Columns Wizard will allow you to designate the data as
Text.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Thu, 7 Dec 2006 14:57:01 -0800, Aaron
wrote:

Thank you for such a quick response Niek,

but... my group frequently deals with .csv files that when you open then, it
automatically sends the text to columns without allowing the option to turn
the long fields to text.

Is there an alternate way to open the file so it does not automatically send
text to columns without asking?

"Niek Otten" wrote:

Excel's numerical precision is 15 decimal digits.
If you need more, like for credit card numbers, format the cell as text before entering the "number" or precede the number by an
apostrophe (which will not show)
Note that you van not calculate with these text-"numbers"

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Aaron" wrote in message ...
| When I type any number into excel that is greater than 15 digits, it turns
| all the remaining numbers to zero. For instance, if I enter 4444555566667777
| excel throws it into scientific format. When I turn it back to a number the
| number is now 4444555566667770.
|
| Any Idea why this is, and how I can make it stop?

Why does excel turn numbers larger than 15 digits to zero?
 

Is there anyway that I can format these cells as text through Excel using C#
or VB.NET?

"Gord Dibben" wrote:

Change the *.csv extension to *.txt

When opening, the Text to Columns Wizard will allow you to designate the data as
Text.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Thu, 7 Dec 2006 14:57:01 -0800, Aaron
wrote:

Thank you for such a quick response Niek,

but... my group frequently deals with .csv files that when you open then, it
automatically sends the text to columns without allowing the option to turn
the long fields to text.

Is there an alternate way to open the file so it does not automatically send
text to columns without asking?

"Niek Otten" wrote:

Excel's numerical precision is 15 decimal digits.
If you need more, like for credit card numbers, format the cell as text before entering the "number" or precede the number by an
apostrophe (which will not show)
Note that you van not calculate with these text-"numbers"

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Aaron" wrote in message ...
| When I type any number into excel that is greater than 15 digits, it turns
| all the remaining numbers to zero. For instance, if I enter 4444555566667777
| excel throws it into scientific format. When I turn it back to a number the
| number is now 4444555566667770.
|
| Any Idea why this is, and how I can make it stop?