Decimal enters as text or number 6

[Guest]

When entering a decimal into a cell it treats it as text and not a value. If
the num lock key is on it will convert it the decimal to a six. Formatting
the cell will not override this problem. Any suggestions?

 

[Gord Dibben]

Jake

By "decimal" do you mean just a period(dot)(.)?

That is normal behaviour unless the (.) is entered as part of a number like
3.7

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Guest]

Yes, when entering 3.6, for example, it will only recognize this entry as
text (will not allow reformating as value). If you activate the num lock key
it would enter this as the numeric value 366. I have removed preferences in
case they were corrupt, but this had no effect. Is there any kind of
keyboard shortcut in Excel that might have activated this. (not a problem in
other apps) This laptop is on a network and when another user logs in it
works without problems.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Jake

For the first problem......perhaps you have pre-formatted the input cells as
Text?

Re-format the cells to General.

Copy an empty cell also formatted as General.

Select the range of cells and Paste Special>Add>OK>Esc.

Are they now numbers?

As far as the NumLock thing, I can't replicate this.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Guest]

Gord,

Already tried your suggestion and it didn't work. Any other ideas?

Jake

 

[AlfD]

Hi!

Is this a desktop PC or a laptop?

Al

 

[Guest]

The original instance occured on a laptop, but if you log into the user's
account on a desktop the problem remains. A period entered as 3.6 will go in
as text and will not allow reformatting to a value, and the numeric key pad
enters the number 6 instead of a decimal point. (ie 3.6 becomes 366) Other
ideas/suggestions???

Jake

 

[Gord Dibben]

Jake

I'm out of ideas except for replacing the keyboard and trying again.

Gord

 

[AlfD]

Hi!

Certainly borrow a keyboard and see if it behaves the same. If it does
sounds more like a deficient driver in need of reinstallation.

Al