imported text data converting to dates

[Guest]

I'm having a problem with imported data automatically converting to dates. I
paste in some data from word which is automatically converted into columns.
One of the columns contains chapter-page number data such as 1-2, or 5-4,
etc. Excel automatically converts that to a date format, which then can't be
converted back to text except as the number corresponding to that date- such
as 38694, etc. The paste of the data overrides any preset "text" format for
those cells. How can I import the data without having it convert to a date?

Thanks.

 

[Roz]

I don't know if this will work, but the cells that are automaticall
converting, try to look up the format of these cells. Higllight them
right click, and click format cells. Under the number tab, you wil
find all sorts of ways to format that cell to look any way you want.
If you just want it to be a number, pick general. If you want it t
look like something else, look thru the options and you can progra
those cells to look that way. Excel probably somehow was programme
to put dates in those cells. I had the same problem, I wanted to pu
in 1/4 as in a quarter inch, and without me doing anything, exce
changed 1/4 to Jan 4. I did as mentioned above and it fixed it. Hop
it works for you

 

[Dave Peterson]

How about a workaround?

Copy your data and paste into NotePad (or any text editor).
Save that file as *.txt.

Now open excel and use File|Open to open the .txt file. You should see the text
import wizard pop up that allows you to specify each field--and you can choose
Text for the field that looks like a date.