the mysterious changing number

[ron]

Hello. Does anyone know why this happens: copy and paste
any 16 digit number into excel, such as this number -
1234567898766543 . The last number turned into a zero,
didn't it? If you paste it into a cell without clicking
into the cell or if you paste it after clicking into the
cell and hit return..same thing, it turns into a zero. It
does not matter what the cell is formatted for, it still
turns into a zero. I am always copying and pasting credit
card information (a 16 digit number) and am tired of
using the "'" before pasting the number to keep the 16th
digit from turning into a zero. Is this just a bug within
excel? Any way to fix it? Thanks.

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi,

This is because Excel thinks you are pasting a number.
Excel is limited to 15 digits so it turns the last into a
zero.

To avoid this, first format the cells as text.

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel TA/MVP