When entering + or - alone in a cell, Excell assumes a math function and
enters other characters. How can I get it to accept these as "text" and
leave it that way.

(Formatting as text doesn't work. Entering a ' first does, but doubles
keystrokes.)

On Wed, 5 Nov 2008 17:51:01 -0800, MLM wrote:

When entering + or - alone in a cell, Excell assumes a math function and
enters other characters. How can I get it to accept these as "text" and
leave it that way.

(Formatting as text doesn't work. Entering a ' first does, but doubles
keystrokes.)


Format it as text BEFORE entering the leading plus or minus signs.

Works here (XL 2007)
--ron

(Formatting as text doesn't work. ..

Pre-formatting the input range as TEXT seems to work ok for me here
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
Downloads:20,000 Files:362 Subscribers:62
xdemechanik
---

Hi,
Could you please tell you Excel Version. I've checked in Excel 2003,
Service Pack 3 and it also works the same as in Excel 2007.

Might be you need to update your excel.

anyways,

Right Clik on any cell - Format Cells -Custom then in type text box enter

+;-

it should also work (here any number equal to or greater then 0 will be
shown as + where as any number less than 0 wil be shown as -). But alas, to
produce a negative sign you will have to hit 2 keys aleast.

--
Kind Regards,
Satti Charvak
Only an Excel Enthusiast


"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote:

On Wed, 5 Nov 2008 17:51:01 -0800, MLM wrote:

When entering + or - alone in a cell, Excell assumes a math function and
enters other characters. How can I get it to accept these as "text" and
leave it that way.

(Formatting as text doesn't work. Entering a ' first does, but doubles
keystrokes.)


Format it as text BEFORE entering the leading plus or minus signs.

Works here (XL 2007)
--ron