application exports number to excels text....can't format

[rich]

Hi,

I have an app that sends the results of some number crunching as text.
I need them to be number or currency for further calculations. I've
tried formating cells, I've tried using the currency button, makes no
difference. An apostrophy is visible at the beginning of the number,
and of course I could delete it manually, then convert to text. But
with each workbook containing several thousand lines, this isn't
sustainable. "Find" doesn't find the apostrophy.

Ideas ?

 

[Guest]

1. In a blank cell, enter 0
2. Copy that cell
3. Select your range of data
4. "Paste Special" and select "Add"

This should solve your problem.

HTH,
Elkar

 

[Pete]

I have come across situations where the cell is formatted as text and
the content is something like ''123 (i.e. double apostrophe, but shows
up as '123). Here, you have to use a compound formula in the helper
column, as follows:

=VALUE(RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-1))

Hope this helps.

Pete

 

[rich]

Thanks for that, it works well.