Cell Formating Problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter brain21
  • Start date Start date
B

brain21

This is what I do:
I open up a brand new worksheet.
I format cell A1 to text.
Then I enter the number 1 into it.
Then I format the cell to Numeric
and the 1 in the cell does not change. it stays as (left justified
1.

If I delete the 1 and type a 1 into that cell and hit Enter, it become
1.00 (a number).

Whats happening here??? Why doesn't it convert the 1 to a 1.00 when
format the cell to numeric? Why do I have to re-enter the number
 
brain

It was originally entered as Text. Simply re-formatting doesn't change its
underlying value. Formatting is used to change the "look" of data, not the
original value.

Either enter as a number originally or if entered as text, format to "number"
then hit F2<Enter>, which effectively re-enters it.

If you have a great whack of these to change, copy an empty cell formatted as
number then select your range of data and Paste Special>Add>OK>Esc.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP
 
Back
Top