type in 4-7 changes to 38814

[Guest]

Help! I am typing into cells numbers like 0-3, 4-7, 8-15, 16-30 and the 4-7
& 8-15 turn into numbers like 38814 --- I have looked at the formatting and
it is the same as the 0-3, yet it automatically changes to something strange
like 38814 --- what is going on? Thanks!

 

[Roger Govier]

Hi

Excel is interpreting the values as dates, and turning the result into
the serial number of that date (7th Apr and 15th Aug)

Either format the cells where you are entering the data as Text before
you start, or precede your entries with a single quote so that Excel
knows that they are text values and will not attempt the conversion.

 

[Niek Otten]

Excel thinks they're dates.
Precede the codes with an apostrophe. It will not show.

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten

| Help! I am typing into cells numbers like 0-3, 4-7, 8-15, 16-30 and the 4-7
| & 8-15 turn into numbers like 38814 --- I have looked at the formatting and
| it is the same as the 0-3, yet it automatically changes to something strange
| like 38814 --- what is going on? Thanks!
| --
| flojoe

 

[Guest]

Excel thinks you are entering dates:


Use the single quote (apostrophe):

'4-7

 

[Guest]

Thank you --- you are a genius & saved me from pulling out all of my hair
Have a great day!

 

[Guest]

Thank you --- I was going crazy! Have a great day!

 

[Guest]

Thank you I was going crazy! Have a great day