I have a column of item numbers that look like they have a dash in them
but it is actually some sort of symbol. ie.... 1000-01, 1000-02. When I
read this file into another system, it does not recognize the "-" symbol
and leaves a blank space. I have tried "replace" but I can't figure out
how to tell it what to replace.


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tmcleod
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Hi!

Try this:

You need to find out what the character really is.

A1 = 1000-01

Enter this formula in B1:

=CODE(MID(A1,5,1))

Now, when you do EditReplace use that numeric code as the Find what
criteria, BUT, to enter that code YOU MUST hold down the ALT key and use the
number keypad. Also, the numeric code needs to be entered as a 4 digit
number. If the formula returns a code of, say, 45, you need to enter 0045.

Biff

"tmcleod" wrote in
message ...

I have a column of item numbers that look like they have a dash in them
but it is actually some sort of symbol. ie.... 1000-01, 1000-02. When I
read this file into another system, it does not recognize the "-" symbol
and leaves a blank space. I have tried "replace" but I can't figure out
how to tell it what to replace.


--
tmcleod
------------------------------------------------------------------------
tmcleod's Profile:
http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32912
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You first need to identify what this character is.

Try http://www.cpearson.com/excel/CellView.htm

(and http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/join.htm#trimall)


--
John James
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John James's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32690
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If your format is always the same, then one way is to use a helper column
and enter this formula, copied down.....

=LEFT(A1,4)&"-"&RIGHT(A1,2)

then do Copy PasteSpecial Values on that column and you then have a
"real" hyphen between your digits. This way, you don't have to know what
that weird character is.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3


"tmcleod" wrote in
message ...

I have a column of item numbers that look like they have a dash in them
but it is actually some sort of symbol. ie.... 1000-01, 1000-02. When I
read this file into another system, it does not recognize the "-" symbol
and leaves a blank space. I have tried "replace" but I can't figure out
how to tell it what to replace.


--
tmcleod
------------------------------------------------------------------------
tmcleod's Profile:
http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32912
View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=527345