How to stop 12E45 turn into a number?
Posted by ILZE on December 03, 2001 11:34 AM
Is there a way to stop Excel from turning strings with numbers and e into numbers that would work for the whole spreadsheet or file? I have to use strings like 12e56 as codes and I have problems with Excel converting them to meaningless numbers. So far the solution has been to add some punctuation mark at the end of the entry, but I have to get rid of it when using the entry in formulas. I have tried to format the whole column as text, but it didn't work. I don't use scientific notation for numbers, so I would be glad to know how to switch this feature off altogether. I am using Excel98 on Mac.
Ilze
Posted by Mark W. on December 03, 2001 12:20 PM
Formatting the "whole column" as Text will work if
you do it before you enter the code (i.e., "12e56")
Otherwise, you can entere your code as a formula
(e.g., ="12E56") or preface you code with an
apostrophe (') (e.g., '12e56). I'd recommend that
you stick with the Text formatting approach.
