Cells won't convert to number format, even after format/cells/num.
 

In excel, I tried to convert numbers to number format, using
format/cells/number from the category list. But it won't take, and stays
text-like. Any ideas?

If it turns out that you have spaces (or those non-breaking spaces), David
McRitchie has some code that will help clean this junk up:

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/join.htm#trimall
(look for "Sub Trimall()")

But after you format the cell as general, try selecting the cell, then hit F2,
then enter.

You have to make a change to the cell for the value to change from text to
number.

scottr wrote:

In excel, I tried to convert numbers to number format, using
format/cells/number from the category list. But it won't take, and stays
text-like. Any ideas?

--

Dave Peterson

If the data was entered as text, it will stay text even if you reformat the
cell. One way to correct this is to put a zero in a blank cell, copy it,
then select the cells you want to be numeric, click Paste special and click
on Add in the function section.

"scottr" wrote:

In excel, I tried to convert numbers to number format, using
format/cells/number from the category list. But it won't take, and stays
text-like. Any ideas?

Peg

Slight ammendment to your post, if I may.

Copy a blank cell and paste specialadd is easier then typing a zero in the
cell then clearing it after the add.


Gord Dibben Excel MVP

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:32:32 -0700, "PegL"
wrote:

If the data was entered as text, it will stay text even if you reformat the
cell. One way to correct this is to put a zero in a blank cell, copy it,
then select the cells you want to be numeric, click Paste special and click
on Add in the function section.

"scottr" wrote:

In excel, I tried to convert numbers to number format, using
format/cells/number from the category list. But it won't take, and stays
text-like. Any ideas?

With the added benefit that blank cells won't turn to 0.



Gord Dibben wrote:

Peg

Slight ammendment to your post, if I may.

Copy a blank cell and paste specialadd is easier then typing a zero in the
cell then clearing it after the add.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:32:32 -0700, "PegL"
wrote:

If the data was entered as text, it will stay text even if you reformat the
cell. One way to correct this is to put a zero in a blank cell, copy it,
then select the cells you want to be numeric, click Paste special and click
on Add in the function section.

"scottr" wrote:

In excel, I tried to convert numbers to number format, using
format/cells/number from the category list. But it won't take, and stays
text-like. Any ideas?

--

Dave Peterson

Yeah, that too<g

Gord

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 16:31:05 -0500, Dave Peterson
wrote:

With the added benefit that blank cells won't turn to 0.



Gord Dibben wrote:

Peg

Slight ammendment to your post, if I may.

Copy a blank cell and paste specialadd is easier then typing a zero in the
cell then clearing it after the add.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:32:32 -0700, "PegL"
wrote:

If the data was entered as text, it will stay text even if you reformat the
cell. One way to correct this is to put a zero in a blank cell, copy it,
then select the cells you want to be numeric, click Paste special and click
on Add in the function section.

"scottr" wrote:

In excel, I tried to convert numbers to number format, using
format/cells/number from the category list. But it won't take, and stays
text-like. Any ideas?