column justification

[Guest]

I have a spreadsheet that has a column formated as general, but the numbers
in the column are right justified in some and left justified in others. If
the number has a space after the first 3 numbers it left justifies. If it
does not then it right justifies. This spreadsheet is downloaded from a
vendor in .xls format.

My problem is I am trying to import into Access and when it hits the numbers
that are left justified it gives me an import error.

Is there something in this spreadsheet that I can not find that is causing
this to act differently?

 

[Harald Staff]

Hi

Left aligned stuff is text if no alignment is forced. Not numbers, but
number looking text. Not dates, but date looking text.

Access understands. You will have to repair that data.

From your description, try edit-replace, replace space with nothing, and see
if alignment changes.

HTH. Best wishes Harald

 

[Guest]

Anything with a space or letter in it becomes alphanumberic data and thus
acts as text and is left justified, the ones without no spaces or letters
will act as strictly numeric data and thus be right justified. I'm not
familiar with how importing into access works but if you have to declare what
type of data you are importing it will not like the alpha numeric if it is
only looking for numeric data.

 

[Guest]

Thank you both. At least I know what is going on now.