Activating cell format

[Richard]

I have a number of cells that have numbers in them but the
cell formats have been set to 'text'. Therefore any SUM
formulas relating to these cells will not add up the
values as the cells are only recognised as text.

okay, I know how to change the cells back to 'general'
or 'number' and I have done this.

The problem is my formula will still not add up these
cells unless I physically go back into each individual
cell with a number to 're-activate' it by pressing F2 and
enter (after which the formula calculates).

Is there a quicker way of 're-activating' these cells as I
have an extremely long list ahead of me!

Many thanks in advance for your help!

Richard

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
try the following (after resetting the format to 'General')
- enter 1 in an empy cell
- copy this cell (CTRL+C)
- now select your cells which have to be 're-activated'
- goto 'Edit - Paste Special' and choose 'Multiply' as action

 

[Kent]

Put the number 1 in a cell somewhere, select the cell and
choose Copy.

Select all the troublemaker cells and choose Edit->Paste
Special Multiply (this multiples them by the 1 you
previously copied).

Excel Support Technician
www.canhelpyou.com

 

[Guest]

Have you tried this: in your "Tools" drop down click "Option" then the "Calculation" tab then Selec
"automatic" for calculation
good luc

----- Richard wrote: ----

I have a number of cells that have numbers in them but the
cell formats have been set to 'text'. Therefore any SUM
formulas relating to these cells will not add up the
values as the cells are only recognised as text

okay, I know how to change the cells back to 'general'
or 'number' and I have done this

The problem is my formula will still not add up these
cells unless I physically go back into each individual
cell with a number to 're-activate' it by pressing F2 and
enter (after which the formula calculates)

Is there a quicker way of 're-activating' these cells as I
have an extremely long list ahead of me

Many thanks in advance for your help

Richar

 

[petdominic]

I was having the exact problem as the other user stated. I need t
reactivate my cells. However when I mulitiply as you all stated i
turns my number cells into (ex 4229+E15) and I need it to read th
whole number 16 characters. How do I make all the number cells unifor
(without having to retype them) for my countif formula to work

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
this is a valid number. Excel can only show 15 digits for a number.