Telephone number format

[Guest]

Greetings:

I would like to convert a column of telephone numbers that are currently in
the format of: ########## to the format of: ###-###-####.

I have added a column next to the existing phone number column with the new
format listed above, but when I move the old number to the new number, the
format does not change. It will only change to the new format if I manually
enter in each number.

Does anyone know how I could convert the existing numbers to the above
telephone format?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Jason Morin]

What do you mean by "move the old number"?

Copy the column of numbers, select the formatted column,
and go to Edit > Paste Special > Value.

HTH
Jason
Atlanta, GA

 

[RagDyer]

If you could live with this format:
(123) 456-7890

There's a built in phone number format under:
<Format> <Cells> <Special> <PhoneNumber>
Where you can convert the existing numbers in place, without having to use
an additional column.
--

HTH,

RD
==============================================
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
==============================================

Greetings:

I would like to convert a column of telephone numbers that are currently in
the format of: ########## to the format of: ###-###-####.

I have added a column next to the existing phone number column with the new
format listed above, but when I move the old number to the new number, the
format does not change. It will only change to the new format if I manually
enter in each number.

Does anyone know how I could convert the existing numbers to the above
telephone format?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Guest]

Hi Jason, thanks for helping me, I appreciate it.

When I say "move the old numbers" I mean that I created a new column with
the phone number format selected through excels' cell format function. I
then, as you suggested, would copy the old column of numbers and do copy>
then paste special> then Values etc.

The numbers remain in the old format however, ########## and not ###-###-####.

I have also tried the custom format as well, can't seem to get that to work
either. I know the format on the new column is working since when I manually
type in a phone number, the format automatically changes it to the correct
###-###-#### format.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks again!

 

[Jason Morin]

Oh, I bet your original numbers are actually text. To
convert them to numbers, type the number 1 into a open
cell, copy it, select your column of numbers, and do Edit

Paste Special > Multiply. Now copy them over to the

formatted column using Paste Special > Values.

Jason

 

[Guest]

That format would be just fine, however I can't change my existing data to
that format.

I have tried to hi-light the entire column, then right click and select cell
format, I then change the format to the phone number format and hit ok.
Nothing happens. The numbers all remain the same......

 

[Guest]

That did it!!!

Thank you very much, I appreicate it.