Database downloads into Excel

[wit2001large]

Hi.

Hope someone can help.

When downloading data from an external database into excel, if a number
is a minus figure, the download puts the minus sign at the end of the
figure rather than at the front. Therefore, excel does not recognise
this as a minus number.

Is there a quicker way than using the text to columns function to
convert this data quickly.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Niek Otten]

Rename the file a .txt file
In the Open process, you can check "trailing minus sign", like in Text to columns

 

[wit2001large]

Thanks for the reply.

I can see what this function does. However, I need the minus sign to be
moved to the front of the figure so that excel then recognises it as a
minus.

Thanks.

 

[Niek Otten]

That is exactly what it does.
Did you try?

 

[Dave Peterson]

Try it. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks for the reply.

I can see what this function does. However, I need the minus sign to be
moved to the front of the figure so that excel then recognises it as a
minus.

Thanks.

 

[zort]

Objective:
To schedule a weekly automated download of a updated excel file from a
"public access" website address.

This is the first step in a process I'm trying to automate
Do I need a third party

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Peterson [mailto[email protected]]
Posted At: Thursday, April 06, 2006 10:39 AM
Posted To: microsoft.public.excel
Conversation: Database downloads into Excel
Subject: Re: Database downloads into Excel

Try it. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks for the reply.

I can see what this function does. However, I need the minus sign to be
moved to the front of the figure so that excel then recognises it as a
minus.

Thanks.

http://www.excelforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=530425