Change text formatting of entire column

  • Thread starter Thread starter Todd K
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Todd K

Is there an easy way to to convert a column from "text" to "number" formatting in Excel. I know this seems like a simple question but hear me out....

For example, column A has 10,000 rows of numbers that were formatted as text so no summing or calculations will work. Simply highlighting the column and changing the formatting to "number" does nothing unless you double-click on each cell individually converting the cells to "number" format one at a time. I don't know why Excel works this way, but it does.

To get around this, I save the spreadsheet as (text) tab-delimited and then reopen the file using "general" formatting to remove the text formatting. Now Excel will recognize the 10,000 rows as numbers.

Is there an easier way to do this?

Thanks,
Todd K
 
In a blank cell enter the number 1 and copy the cell
Select the problem range
Use Edit | Paste Special and check the Multiply box; click OK
This should solve your problem

best wishes
Bernard

Is there an easy way to to convert a column from "text" to "number" formatting in Excel. I know this seems like a simple question but hear me out....

For example, column A has 10,000 rows of numbers that were formatted as text so no summing or calculations will work. Simply highlighting the column and changing the formatting to "number" does nothing unless you double-click on each cell individually converting the cells to "number" format one at a time. I don't know why Excel works this way, but it does.

To get around this, I save the spreadsheet as (text) tab-delimited and then reopen the file using "general" formatting to remove the text formatting. Now Excel will recognize the 10,000 rows as numbers.

Is there an easier way to do this?

Thanks,
Todd K
 
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