Squares, not dots

How were these numbers brought in to Excel (entered by hand, imported from database?- NT)

Can't format

Hi,
I just typed the numbers in by hand.
Even if I just start a new worksheet, then try to format it I still get the message:
"Your entry cannot be used. An integer or decimal number may be required."
I have no idea what that means. Have you ever seen such a message before?
Mystified.

The only thing I can think of...

It sounds as if your numbers are being treated as text!

If this is a brand new workbook then maybe an uninstall/reinstall is necessary (remember to reboot after the uninstall and again after the reinstall). If this is in an existing workbook, could you have code running about which you are unaware, or is there some sort of protection in place? Also are numbers behaving correctly when typed into other programs, like calculator and Word? Does it matter whether you use the keypad or the number row? Can you paste numbers from other applications and format them correctly?

I'm sure you've tried changing the format, but if your numbers are in col A, have you tried the trick of adding a 0 to "force" a numeric value? if your number is in A1, in b1 enter
=a1+0
and see if the result behaves more like a value for you, but that would just be a workaround. The far more serious problem of not being able to enter numbers into excel needs to be fixed first.
HTH

Can't access Escel

I uninstalled, then reinstalled Excel 2000. Now I can't even get it to start. I get a message
"Assertion failed. see the message"
and underneath
"error executing excel command 0095"
If I click on ok under the message, Excel disappears.
I can go to file, open and get a worksheet. It won't let me format it, and it won't let me enter any numbers or text.

Can't access Escel

I uninstalled, then reinstalled Excel 2000. Now I can't even get it to start. I get a message
"Assertion failed. see the message"
and underneath
"error executing excel command 0095"
If I click on ok under the message, Excel disappears.
I can go to file, open and get a worksheet. It won't let me format it, and it won't let me enter any numbers or text.

Wow, things are decaying rapidly!

What operating system are you running, and are there any other abnormalities with the system, or is it just excel? Also, what are the hardware specs of your machine? In control panel under the Add/Remove software applet, is Excel listed more than once?

Still no Excell

I'm using Windows 98, Excel 2000. Near as I can tell, there isn't anything else funny on the system - so far.
Sure enough, there was Excell 95 lurking on my computer -- and it was working fine. I was tempted to keep it, but there are a few things on 2000 that I like, such as differnet currency symbols (I live in France, so use Francs on some spreadsheets, and will have to start using Euros).
I uninstalled Excell 95, uninstalled Excell 2000, reinstalled it, and still get exactly the same error message.
I see you asked for hardware specs. What do yo need - and where can I fidn the information? I amnot a computer whiz, even though I use one every day.
Thanks for the help

check your email (NT)