Database text converted to numeric
 

I Imported data from a SQL Database, it is numeric and alpha numeric but mostly numeric numbers (Serial numbers). I need to compare this list to another Excel list containing the same information but with some numbers missing. I pull this into Access and when I try and compare them the error is that the format has to be the same.

I changed the format of the list I imported to Numeric (most of the numbers is only numbers) but now I have to press F2 and enter on every single number (database is only 227500 lines) to convert it to a Number.

I thought it was because it still saw itself as a Database value so I copied it into a new workbook but it's still happening.

Is there any help out there please!!

Try this macro from David McRitchie.

Look for TRIMALL, it's about half way down the page:

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/join.htm

Carole O

"Estie" wrote:


I Imported data from a SQL Database, it is numeric and alpha numeric but
mostly numeric numbers (Serial numbers). I need to compare this list to
another Excel list containing the same information but with some
numbers missing. I pull this into Access and when I try and compare
them the error is that the format has to be the same.

I changed the format of the list I imported to Numeric (most of the
numbers is only numbers) but now I have to press F2 and enter on every
single number (database is only 227500 lines) to convert it to a
Number.

I thought it was because it still saw itself as a Database value so I
copied it into a new workbook but it's still happening.

Is there any help out there please!!


--
Estie

Estie

Simply changing the format will not do the trick if the "numbers" are seen as
text.

Copy a blank cell formatted as General.

Select your "numbers" and EditPaste SpecialAddOKEsc.

BTW, how do you get 227500 "lines" on a sheet?


Gord Dibben Excel MVP


On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 15:07:40 +0100, Estie
wrote:


I Imported data from a SQL Database, it is numeric and alpha numeric but
mostly numeric numbers (Serial numbers). I need to compare this list to
another Excel list containing the same information but with some
numbers missing. I pull this into Access and when I try and compare
them the error is that the format has to be the same.

I changed the format of the list I imported to Numeric (most of the
numbers is only numbers) but now I have to press F2 and enter on every
single number (database is only 227500 lines) to convert it to a
Number.

I thought it was because it still saw itself as a Database value so I
copied it into a new workbook but it's still happening.

Is there any help out there please!!