My co-worker is having issues with a file that was exported to Excel. One
column has text format and contains numbers. He needs to add the numbers but
the column is text formatted. He cannot use FORMAT CELL and select number.
It appears to work but doesn't . The column is still text formatted. What
does he need to do? He can change one cell at a time because it gives him a
little error indicator in the corner of the cell but this is too time
consuming.

Try this:

Enter a 1 into any blank cell
Copy that cell
Select the range of cells to convert
From the Edit Menu, choose "Paste Special..."
Check the "Values" and "Multiply" options
Click OK
Delete the 1 you entered originally

All text numbers should now be converted to real numbers.

HTH,
Elkar


"beadedbeauty" wrote:

My co-worker is having issues with a file that was exported to Excel. One
column has text format and contains numbers. He needs to add the numbers but
the column is text formatted. He cannot use FORMAT CELL and select number.
It appears to work but doesn't . The column is still text formatted. What
does he need to do? He can change one cell at a time because it gives him a
little error indicator in the corner of the cell but this is too time
consuming.

Copy a blank cell and select your rangej right click Paste Special
Select Add OK

"beadedbeauty" wrote:

My co-worker is having issues with a file that was exported to Excel. One
column has text format and contains numbers. He needs to add the numbers but
the column is text formatted. He cannot use FORMAT CELL and select number.
It appears to work but doesn't . The column is still text formatted. What
does he need to do? He can change one cell at a time because it gives him a
little error indicator in the corner of the cell but this is too time
consuming.

One way:

Copy a blank cell. Select the Text "numbers". Choose Edit/Paste Special,
selecting the Values and Add radio buttons. Click OK.

In article ,
beadedbeauty wrote:

My co-worker is having issues with a file that was exported to Excel. One
column has text format and contains numbers. He needs to add the numbers but
the column is text formatted. He cannot use FORMAT CELL and select number.
It appears to work but doesn't . The column is still text formatted. What
does he need to do? He can change one cell at a time because it gives him a
little error indicator in the corner of the cell but this is too time
consuming.

Format all to General.

Copy an empty cell.

Select the range of data and EditPaste Special(in place)AddOKEsc.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:28:08 -0700, beadedbeauty
wrote:

My co-worker is having issues with a file that was exported to Excel. One
column has text format and contains numbers. He needs to add the numbers but
the column is text formatted. He cannot use FORMAT CELL and select number.
It appears to work but doesn't . The column is still text formatted. What
does he need to do? He can change one cell at a time because it gives him a
little error indicator in the corner of the cell but this is too time
consuming.