pasting numbers into excel

[soma]

when pasting numbers from another program into excel, i have problem
with the excel program understanding that these values are numbers
even if i go into format cells and change the format, they dont change
eg. if i change a cell to currency, that pasted cell still doesn
change.

however, if i go to the cell and hit f2 and then enter, or i jus
retype the number in over the top, then all of a sudden it works, and
can use the data for charts etc.

but ive been trying to use these numbers in a chart as is, and it won
plot the number with any value. as soon as i retype the number over th
top of it, it plots the value fine.

i have tried rightclicking and pasting special, the only 3 options
get are paste as html, text , or unicode... and all 3 dont work.

i found this problem out because i can download my pohne bill off th
net, and also at work im downloading reports off various programs an
its the same story. the nubmers just dont seem to mean anything until
retype the number.

please help somebody?
thankyou

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

After you paste the data, change the data back to numbers:

1. Select an empty cell on the worksheet
2. Choose Edit>Copy
3. Select the cells that you pasted
4. Choose Edit>Paste Special
5. Select Add, click OK

If you do this frequently, you can use a macro to convert the numbers:
'=============================
Sub ConvertToNumbers()
'by Jon Peltier
Cells(65535, 255).Copy
Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlPasteValues, _
Operation:=xlPasteSpecialOperationAdd
End Sub
'=============================