SSN Format not showing

[Guest]

Hello,

I have a spreadsheet with over 2000 rows of benefits information. Two of the
columns have social security numbers in them. I applied the special format to
put them in standard social security format (###-##-####) but none of the
numbers change format until I double-click in each cell.

Is there an easier way to see the format without double-clicking in over
4,000 cells?!

 

[Anne Troy]

Sounds like they're already entered as text (or some of them). Do the "fix"
in "data isn't recognized..."
http://www.officearticles.com/excel/data_cleanup_tips_for_microsoft_excel.htm
************
Anne Troy
www.OfficeArticles.com

 

[Guest]

Thank you so much, Anne. That did the trick! Now, I just realized another
column has a similar problem. It's a column of Birthdates, but the dates are
set up as YYYY-MM-DD ..... is there a way to format that column without
getting a cell full of #####?

 

[Anne Troy]

If it's text, you may have to diddle around to convert it. Insert 3 columns
to the right of it and try Text to Columns (see link below) on it.
http://www.officearticles.com/excel/best_tips_for_using_microsoft_excel.htm
************
Anne Troy
www.OfficeArticles.com

 

[PCLIVE]

You may just need to resize the column width in order for the data to be
displayed correctly. Try selecting the entire column. Then click
Format-Column-AutoFit Selection.

Paul