Text or Number???

[Clive_S]

Excel (2003) is converting data I enter to a different format.

I have a unique identifier that I use in a VLookup, 12 digit text.
This is a series of digits 12345678.. or 01234556...

1)
If I enter this as text, Excel (2003) converts it to scientif format.
So I am forced to format it as a number.

2) I have to enter return after the ID in each row or the VLookup
returns #N/A. This is impracticle for thousands of records. I should
have not have to do it even for a few records???

Any suggestions??

 

[Bob I]

If you want text you need to performat the cells as text first, or
preface the digits with ' apostrophe

 

[wolfgang werner]

I attempted to duplicate your text problem. You might need to detail more explicitly what you did as I my result was different: (1) I first formatted a cell as "Text" and entered "0123456789012" (without quotes) which resulted in the cell to contain "0123456789012" (without quotes). (2) Into an unformated (fresh) cell in entered "'0123456789012" (without quotes) which resulted in the cell to contain "0123456789012" (without quotes)
Attempting to duplicate your 2) I am guessing you are reading in a data file as entering a "return" into Excel normally causes some form of cell focus change.
If you are importing a file, consider doing so via VBA.



Clive_S wrote:

Text or Number???
29-Sep-09

Excel (2003) is converting data I enter to a different format.

I have a unique identifier that I use in a VLookup, 12 digit text.
This is a series of digits 12345678.. or 01234556...

1)
If I enter this as text, Excel (2003) converts it to scientif format.
So I am forced to format it as a number.

2) I have to enter return after the ID in each row or the VLookup
returns #N/A. This is impracticle for thousands of records. I should
have not have to do it even for a few records???

Any suggestions??

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