I have a file that was exported from Quick Books.

One column with numbers will not add because there is a little green
arrow in the upper left of each cell indicating it is formatted as
TEXT. I can select the cell individually and change the format to
general or currency - but I cannot select the entire column and change
it. If I select the entire column, it will only change the first non
numeric cell.

Format all to General.

Then copy an empty cell.

Select the range to change and EditPaste SpecialAddOKEsc


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:27:33 -0700 (PDT), wx4usa wrote:

I have a file that was exported from Quick Books.

One column with numbers will not add because there is a little green
arrow in the upper left of each cell indicating it is formatted as
TEXT. I can select the cell individually and change the format to
general or currency - but I cannot select the entire column and change
it. If I select the entire column, it will only change the first non
numeric cell.

On Oct 30, 11:45*am, Gord Dibben <gorddibbATshawDOTca wrote:
Format all to General.

Then copy an empty cell.

Select the range to change and EditPaste SpecialAddOKEsc

Gord Dibben *MS Excel MVP

On Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:27:33 -0700 (PDT), wx4usa wrote:
I have a file that was exported from Quick Books.

One column with numbers will not add because there is a little green
arrow in the upper left of each cell indicating it is formatted as
TEXT. I can select the cell individually and change the format to
general or currency - but I cannot select the entire column and change
it. *If I select the entire column, it will only change the first non
numeric cell.

Thank you Gord! It worked . Why does it do that?

The copy and Add just forces a recalc of all the cells.

Same as you going through one at a time and F2 + Enter

As another poster noted......you can run the data through Text to Columns
and receive the same effect.


Gord

On Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:53:33 -0700 (PDT), wx4usa wrote:

On Oct 30, 11:45*am, Gord Dibben <gorddibbATshawDOTca wrote:
Format all to General.

Then copy an empty cell.

Select the range to change and EditPaste SpecialAddOKEsc

Gord Dibben *MS Excel MVP

On Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:27:33 -0700 (PDT), wx4usa wrote:
I have a file that was exported from Quick Books.

One column with numbers will not add because there is a little green
arrow in the upper left of each cell indicating it is formatted as
TEXT. I can select the cell individually and change the format to
general or currency - but I cannot select the entire column and change
it. *If I select the entire column, it will only change the first non
numeric cell.

Thank you Gord! It worked . Why does it do that?

Try selecting your column of numbers and then choosing Data/Text to Columns.

"wx4usa" wrote:

I have a file that was exported from Quick Books.

One column with numbers will not add because there is a little green
arrow in the upper left of each cell indicating it is formatted as
TEXT. I can select the cell individually and change the format to
general or currency - but I cannot select the entire column and change
it. If I select the entire column, it will only change the first non
numeric cell.