Entering Large Number

[TJS]

Hi all,

Quick question.

When I type in 123456789123456789 in the cell, Excel convert it into
123456789123456000 no matter cell is in number or text.
How can I display it correctly.

Thank you

 

[JE McGimpsey]

XL's specifications (See XL Help: "Specifications") allow only 15
decimal digits of precision.

You can preformat the cell as Text or prefix the entry with an
apostrophe ('), but it will no longer be a number that you can do math
with.

 

[TJS]

OK That'sf what I did, with a little twist though...

When I format just 1 cell to text, it did the same 15 digits thing.
When I format the whole column to text, it finally displayed right.
What gives?

Thanks

 

[Rob]

Did you already have the digits entered in the one cell when you formatted
to text?

Rob

 

[TJS]

It was same either way, before or after.

Odd

 

[Rob]

Hmmm, a bit odd I agree.

I have had occassions in the past when trying to change the format of a cell
doesn't seem to take affect as it should. I then drag a correctly formatted
cell to the problem cell which seemed to override the format which fixed the
problem. Don't know if that would fix your situation, but I don't have any
other ideas.

Rob

 

[TJS]

Thanks Rob,

I openned another work sheet and does the same. So got to be be m
application issue.

T

 

[Jerry W. Lewis]

I cannot reproduce the behaviour that I understand you to be describing
here. What version of Excel? What steps exactly?

Prefixing with an apostrophe is always reliable.

Jerry

 

[Dave Peterson]

If you formatted the cell after you did the data entry, it's too late.

If you formatted that cell before you did the data entry, then try formatting it
once more--I'm betting that you made a minor mistake (maybe hit cancel instead
of ok???).