Problem with Using "Multiply by 1"

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  • Start date Start date
A

A

I am having an issue that is driving me crazy. I have always had a trick of
converting numbers in cells using the formula "*1". Example, if you have a
zip code that leads with 0 and you need to get rid of the zero. If you enter
=Zip Code *1, it would return a four digit zip code. This always worked for
me in a number of ways. Now, I am having the weirdest thing happen. When I
type in this formula, it works for the first cell but when I copy it down, it
is only return the content of the first cell, even though the formula is
updating to reflect the correct cell.

Example if cell A1 = 05444 and in cell b1 I type =a1*1, b1 returns the value
5444
When I copy down the formula, the formula reads correctly in b2, but still
returns the result 5444.

Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?? *1 was always my trick and
now it's not working. I'm using Office/Excel 2007.

Thanks!
 
Sounds like calculation mode is set to manual.

Change it to automatic in Excel Options.

BTW.........you can change the text to numbers in multiple cells without the
use of formulas.

Format all to General.

Copy an empty cell.

Select the range to change and edit>paste special>add>ok>esc.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
 
THANK YOU SO MUCH! This was it. I don't understand why it switched to that
or what manual calculation is - but it was making me crazy. Much appreciated.
 
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