Numbers acting like text

[jrj]

I have read every explanation I could find on the Internet of how to
convert imported numbers that don't act like numbers. I have done the
PasteSpecial trick until my fingers are sore, without success. Is there
a way to find out the properties of a cell? Do some cells resist the
normal tricks?
thanks
jr

 

[David McRitchie]

Try the TrimAll macro to remove spaces and
non-breaking-spaces.
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/join.htm#trimall

 

[jrj]

I don't know the first thing about macros, but now I guess I do.
I pulled it off!

Apparently the CellView Add-In is the answer to how to check the
"properties" of a cell. That worked well to clue me in on what was
going on.

thanks a million
jr

 

[David McRitchie]

That's a good start, but macros are installed differently
than addins. The TrimALL macro is written to correct
the data, though you should have a general idea of
what is wrong whether by Chip's CellView addin or
by some of the worksheet functions.

To install the TrimALL macro see directions for
installing a macro that you have the code for.
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm#havemacro

It should save you a lot of time. The TrimALL works on a
selection. So you would normally select entire columns you
want to change before running the macro. The columns
need not be contiguous, you can select any range of cells
and by holding the Ctrl key you can include more cell ranges
in the selection.