Formatting Imported Data

[Guest]

Hello, I have been very frustrated trying to use VLOOKUP on data I have
imported to reference data already in the spreadsheet. The problem is in the
formating. I thought no problem, I will just highlight all of the cells and
choose FORMAT,CELLS, and whatever I need to make it work. The only problem
is that the format doesn't change! Instead I get the little green tabs in
the corner boxes. The real mystery is that if I simply place the cursor on
the cell and push F2, do nothing else except hit enter, the new format change
takes place and my VLOOKUP works. Problem, now I have to do that on about a
thousand cells. What am I missing? What should I be doing instead? Thanks
in advance to any one that can help me with this!

 

[Gord Dibben]

Simply re-formatting the cells will not make a change needed.

You must force Excel to change the data type.

To change text numbers into number numbers(I like that Dave<g>) you can Format
all to General then copy a blank cell.

Select your 1000 cells and Paste Special(in place)>Add>OK>Esc.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP