Scientific notation from a csv file

[Guest]

When I download data from a website, Excel shows numbers as scientific
notation, though the data in the cell is the number. I want this data to be
text. When I change the format to text, it does not change (except to left
align it). If I edit the cell (click in it or press F2), it will then change
the number from the scientific notation to the number as it is in the cell
(i.e., as a "regular" number). I don't have to change anything; I just have
to click in the cell as if were going to edit it. If I don't change the
format, even editing the number will not change the format from scientific
notation.

I would like to be able to download the data and have it "seen" as text (not
in scientific notation) without having to "massage" the formatting, etc. Is
there a way for me to do this?

 

[Guest]

Your posting subject mentioned a csv file. When Excel opens a csv file it
tries to interpret the material on its own.

If you re-name the file to .txt Excel will bring up the Import Wizard. You
can tell the Wizard which fields are Text.