Import External Data

[Dthmtlgod]

When I use the Import External Data function, I import another XLS document
into my current spreadsheet, basically creating a link, one of the columns
loses information.

It grabs the cells that have only numbers, but it doesn't grab the cells
that contain only letters.

Any ideas on why this happens?

TIA

 

[Dick Kusleika]

What version are you using? What are the steps for me to reproduce what you
are doing?

 

[Dthmtlgod]

Dick,

Excel 2002

I click on Data, Import External Data, Import Data
Select the spreadsheet I want to import
Put the data into a new sheet

Then the field will lose the entries with only letters, but it will bring
over the numbers.

Both columns on both spreadsheets are set for Text

 

[Dick Kusleika]

Okay. I don't have 2002 on this machine (which explains why I couldn't find
Import Data). I'll check it when I get to my 2002 machine and let you know
what I find out.

 

[Dan Van]

OK. Great

Okay. I don't have 2002 on this machine (which explains why I couldn't find
Import Data). I'll check it when I get to my 2002 machine and let you know
what I find out.

--
Dick Kusleika
MVP - Excel
Excel Blog - Daily Dose of Excel
www.dicks-blog.com

 

[Dick Kusleika]

Dan

Well, I can confirm that it happens just like you say. I don't know why
yet, but I'm going to keep looking.

 

[Dick Kusleika]

Dan

It's all coming back to me now. Read this thread

http://www.google.com/groups?hl=en&...k+group%3Amicrosoft.public.excel*&btnG=Search

Formatting the cells as Text doesn't do it. But if you put an apostrophe in
front of your numbers to make them text, it works. In that thread, Tom
Ogilvy has a macro that converts numbers to text with an apostrophe.