Cute trick I just discovered

[Bob Umlas]

....and maybe you already know it, but some don't!
You have
123
234-
345
456-
4.2
1.9
30.2-
13
etc.
You want the numbers which END in the minus sign to BEGIN with the minus
sign.
The trick? Select the numbers, use Data/Text-to-Columns, click Finish!
Who knew?
Bob Umlas
Excel MVP

 

[Gord Dibben]

Bob

Only if Step 3>Advanced>Trailing minus for negative numbers is checked.

That setting is default but can be changed and Excel remembers the change so
next time it won't work.


Gord

 

[Dave Peterson]

I think that this was added in xl2002 or xl2003, too.

It's not available for real old versions.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Was around in 2002.

I did not ever use 2000 but was not there in 97


Gord

 

[Bernard Liengme]

Bob: that's not Excel, that's magic!

 

[Ken Johnson]

...and maybe you already know it, but some don't!
You have
123
234-
345
456-
4.2
1.9
30.2-
13
etc.
You want the numbers which END in the minus sign to BEGIN with the minus
sign.
The trick? Select the numbers, use Data/Text-to-Columns, click Finish!
Who knew?
Bob Umlas
Excel MVP

Extraordinary coincidence that a request for how to solve this problem
was posted in OpenOffice.org forum only today...
http://www.oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic.phtml?p=346639#346639
This trick also works in OOo Calc.
Thanks Bob.

Ken Johnson