part numbers auto-convert to dates

[Tmonster]

I have a long list of part numbers in XXXX-XX-XX format. When I paste them
into Excel, they are converted to dates XX/XX/XXXX and timestamp integer; the
numbers are lost. How can I disable excel's auto-conversion?

The solution listed on this site is not an option for me. I can't spend an
hour every day configuring file imports.


Try pasting this short list of part numbers into excel and watch what
happens...
4192-3-01
4192-3-02
4192-3-03
4192-3-04
4192-3-05
4192-3-06
4192-3-07
4192-3-08
4192-3-09
4192-3-10
4192-3-11
4192-3-12

 

[Local_IT]

What type of file are you pasting them from?

I had no trouble when I created the same data in Excel, then pasted it all
over the document. The source of the part numbers has to be the issue.

 

[T. Valko]

Pre-format the destination cells as TEXT.

Then, when you go to paste do Right click>Paste special>Text>Ok

 

[ERR229]

Give this a try:

Do a Paste Special>Text.
Then, click the Paste Option button (the little button that appears near the
bottom of whatever you pasted) and choose Open Text Import Wizard.
Click Next through the first two screens.
On the third screen of the Wizard, under Column data format, seelct Text.
Click Finish.

Hope it helps

ERR

 

[Tmonster]

Thanks for replies. I'm pretty sure there is no fix, just workarounds. We
have changed the part number system to avoid this problem. Maybe one day MS
will fix this glitch.