text cell changes to a date

[sunnyjoan]

I formatted a column to TEXT. I am entering a series of numbers that are
actually an ID rather than an actually number. Example "8-25". Sometimes
this ID will appear in the cell as I entered it. At other times it will
change to a date format "25-Aug". It seems like Excell just wants to change
the cell format randomly.

Is this a know programming error in MS 2007??

 

[JLatham]

It's a case of Excel trying to be too helpful at times, and this is one of
those times.

If you'll enter youre IDs preceded with a single quote mark, then they will
always be taken as text. Example: '8-25[Enter]
The ' mark tells Excel that what follows is all text and not to try to
perform any feats of magic or otherwise alter it.