When copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only) to cell B1,
cell B1 value= 1. Then i type 1 at cell A2.
I compare A2 with B1 and it show that B1 not equal with A2, but B1 equal to
A1.
But if i double click on the cell B1 and enter or click "convert to number".
The result will be reverse. May i know why?

A1 {="1"} ; B1 {copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only) to
cell B1}
C1 {=if(A1=B1,"Yes","No")}

A2{1}; B2{blank}; C2 {=if(A2=B1,"Yes", "No")}

Initial result: C1= Yes, C2=No
after double click on the cell B1 and enter or click "convert to number":
C1= No, C2=Yes


I have lots of cells, some with formula {="xxx"} and some without formula
{xxx}. How to convert all to the numbers by few steps?

Thanks in advance!

"HS Yong" <HS wrote:
When copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only) to cell B1,
cell B1 value= 1. Then i type 1 at cell A2.
I compare A2 with B1 and it show that B1 not equal with A2, but B1 equal
to
A1. [....] May i know why?

In C1, enter =TYPE(B1); and in C2, enter =TYPE(A2). That should give you a
clue.

Answer: B1 is text (type 2), just as if you had typed "hi" without quotes.
A1 is also text because you enclosed it in quotes. So A1 and B1 are equal
because they are the same text string.

On the other hand, A2 is numeric (type 1). Text "1" is not equal to the
number 1. This might be surprising because in some contexts, Excel does
treat numeric text strings as numbers. For example, =A1+B1 is the numeric
value 2 (type 1). What can I say? No one ever accused Excel of being
consistent :-).

(Historical note: The fault probably lies with Visicalc, Lotus or
Multiplan. Excel might simply be trying to be compatible.)


I have lots of cells, some with formula {="xxx"} and some without formula
{xxx}. How to convert all to the numbers by few steps?

Enter 1 into some cell, say C1. Copy C1. Hold down the Ctrl key and click
each cell that you wish to convert. Then right-click the last cell and
click Paste Special, Multiply, OK. You can now delete the value in C1.

That will effect the conversion. However, cells that were originally ="xxx"
will now be =("xxx")*1. If wish to clean those up, do the following
additional steps. Click on the cell and copy it. Then right-click the same
cell and click Paste Special, Value, OK.

You will have to do this with each cell one by one unless you can select a
contiguous range that includes multiple cells to be cleaned up. At least
Excel 2003 will not permit you to copy discontiguous cells that you select
by holding the Ctrl key while clicking.


----- original message -----

"HS Yong" <HS wrote in message
...
When copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only) to cell B1,
cell B1 value= 1. Then i type 1 at cell A2.
I compare A2 with B1 and it show that B1 not equal with A2, but B1 equal
to
A1.
But if i double click on the cell B1 and enter or click "convert to
number".
The result will be reverse. May i know why?

A1 {="1"} ; B1 {copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only)
to
cell B1}
C1 {=if(A1=B1,"Yes","No")}

A2{1}; B2{blank}; C2 {=if(A2=B1,"Yes", "No")}

Initial result: C1= Yes, C2=No
after double click on the cell B1 and enter or click "convert to number":
C1= No, C2=Yes


I have lots of cells, some with formula {="xxx"} and some without formula
{xxx}. How to convert all to the numbers by few steps?

Thanks in advance!

To convert your data to numbers. Copy the range.Right clickPaste
SpecialValues OK. Still if you have any issues with the numbers

--Copy a blank unused cell. Select the range of cells you want to convert.
Right clickPasteSpecialAdd. click OK

If this post helps click Yes
---------------
Jacob Skaria


"HS Yong" wrote:

When copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only) to cell B1,
cell B1 value= 1. Then i type 1 at cell A2.
I compare A2 with B1 and it show that B1 not equal with A2, but B1 equal to
A1.
But if i double click on the cell B1 and enter or click "convert to number".
The result will be reverse. May i know why?

A1 {="1"} ; B1 {copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only) to
cell B1}
C1 {=if(A1=B1,"Yes","No")}

A2{1}; B2{blank}; C2 {=if(A2=B1,"Yes", "No")}

Initial result: C1= Yes, C2=No
after double click on the cell B1 and enter or click "convert to number":
C1= No, C2=Yes


I have lots of cells, some with formula {="xxx"} and some without formula
{xxx}. How to convert all to the numbers by few steps?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Jacob and JoeU,

Thanks for your advice!

Best Regards,
HS Yong

"JoeU2004" wrote:

"HS Yong" <HS wrote:
When copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only) to cell B1,
cell B1 value= 1. Then i type 1 at cell A2.
I compare A2 with B1 and it show that B1 not equal with A2, but B1 equal
to
A1. [....] May i know why?

In C1, enter =TYPE(B1); and in C2, enter =TYPE(A2). That should give you a
clue.

Answer: B1 is text (type 2), just as if you had typed "hi" without quotes.
A1 is also text because you enclosed it in quotes. So A1 and B1 are equal
because they are the same text string.

On the other hand, A2 is numeric (type 1). Text "1" is not equal to the
number 1. This might be surprising because in some contexts, Excel does
treat numeric text strings as numbers. For example, =A1+B1 is the numeric
value 2 (type 1). What can I say? No one ever accused Excel of being
consistent :-).

(Historical note: The fault probably lies with Visicalc, Lotus or
Multiplan. Excel might simply be trying to be compatible.)


I have lots of cells, some with formula {="xxx"} and some without formula
{xxx}. How to convert all to the numbers by few steps?

Enter 1 into some cell, say C1. Copy C1. Hold down the Ctrl key and click
each cell that you wish to convert. Then right-click the last cell and
click Paste Special, Multiply, OK. You can now delete the value in C1.

That will effect the conversion. However, cells that were originally ="xxx"
will now be =("xxx")*1. If wish to clean those up, do the following
additional steps. Click on the cell and copy it. Then right-click the same
cell and click Paste Special, Value, OK.

You will have to do this with each cell one by one unless you can select a
contiguous range that includes multiple cells to be cleaned up. At least
Excel 2003 will not permit you to copy discontiguous cells that you select
by holding the Ctrl key while clicking.


----- original message -----

"HS Yong" <HS wrote in message
...
When copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only) to cell B1,
cell B1 value= 1. Then i type 1 at cell A2.
I compare A2 with B1 and it show that B1 not equal with A2, but B1 equal
to
A1.
But if i double click on the cell B1 and enter or click "convert to
number".
The result will be reverse. May i know why?

A1 {="1"} ; B1 {copy cell A1 contain ="1" and Paste Special (Value only)
to
cell B1}
C1 {=if(A1=B1,"Yes","No")}

A2{1}; B2{blank}; C2 {=if(A2=B1,"Yes", "No")}

Initial result: C1= Yes, C2=No
after double click on the cell B1 and enter or click "convert to number":
C1= No, C2=Yes


I have lots of cells, some with formula {="xxx"} and some without formula
{xxx}. How to convert all to the numbers by few steps?

Thanks in advance!