Formula ???
 

I am fairly new at using Excel - I am attempting to create a spreadsheet that includes vehicle information.... the Vehicle Title Numbers are seventeen digits - after I insert those numbers they appear to be calculated/converted in some way - the seventeen digit number is converted into the following: 5.74094E+15

If I double-click within that cell, then the number reverts back to the seventeen digit number I entered. Is there some way I can prevent the Title Number from being calculated/converted?

Pls do NOT multipost.

--
Don Guillett
SalesAid Software

"WhiteHawk" wrote in message ...
I am fairly new at using Excel - I am attempting to create a spreadsheet that includes vehicle information.... the Vehicle Title Numbers are seventeen digits - after I insert those numbers they appear to be calculated/converted in some way - the seventeen digit number is converted into the following: 5.74094E+15

If I double-click within that cell, then the number reverts back to the seventeen digit number I entered. Is there some way I can prevent the Title Number from being calculated/converted?

Format the cells as "Number". It appears it's formatted as "General".

Format the cells as "Number". It appears it's formatted as "General".

I haven't looked at the other postings wherever they are
but having an incorrect answer in thread would certainly
confuse someone, so...

What you have is an ID you should not think of them
as numbers, since you will not be treating them
numerically. They might even have leading zeros
unless specifically designated otherwise.

In any case Excel can only have 15 digits
for a number -- and it was stated the
Vehicle Title Numbers are seventeen digits

Most credit cards have 16 digits, and that also is beyond
Excel specification -- you must treat it as text.
Look up specifications in HELP (F1).

Format the column as Text to be the safest. You could
type a single quote in front of the VIN but a macro won't
pick that up so you could end up with the same mess
later on.
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"DNA" wrote in message lkaboutsoftware.com...
Format the cells as "Number". It appears it's formatted as "General".

Sorry... didn't know quite where to post the question... I will NOT multipost again
"Don Guillett" wrote in message ...
Pls do NOT multipost.

--
Don Guillett
SalesAid Software

"WhiteHawk" wrote in message ...
I am fairly new at using Excel - I am attempting to create a spreadsheet that includes vehicle information.... the Vehicle Title Numbers are seventeen digits - after I insert those numbers they appear to be calculated/converted in some way - the seventeen digit number is converted into the following: 5.74094E+15

If I double-click within that cell, then the number reverts back to the seventeen digit number I entered. Is there some way I can prevent the Title Number from being calculated/converted?

See

http://cpearson.com/excel/newposte.htm

for other tips on using these newsgroups effectively.

In article ,
"WhiteHawk" wrote:

Sorry... didn't know quite where to post the question... I will NOT multipost
again