Leading zeroes

David Hamacher · Mar 28th, 2002, 11:56 AM

How do I keep the leading zeroes in the zip codes of databases that I save in ascii text?
Formatting them as text or zip codes or general doesn't do it.

codyswan · Mar 28th, 2002, 12:06 PM

How about a leading space? Almost any text character will do. The nice thing about a leading space is that it doesn't get in your way if you are printing the data or using it for mail merge.

You can also just turn it into text instead of a number using the text function. It still sorts properly. As text, Excel will want to left align instead of right align.

Mark W. · Mar 28th, 2002, 12:11 PM

Quote:

On 2002-03-28 10:56, David Hamacher wrote:
How do I keep the leading zeroes in the zip codes of databases that I save in ascii text?
Formatting them as text or zip codes or general doesn't do it.

Why have you concluded that the Zipcode formatting doesn't preserve the leading zeroes when saving as a Tab-delimited text file (.txt)? It works for me!

Ian Mac · Mar 28th, 2002, 12:14 PM

try custom format 00000

tweetyksc · Apr 3rd, 2002, 08:11 AM

format the cell with a custom format.
i.e. 00000

Mar 28th, 2002, 12:14 PM	#4
Ian Mac MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Newcastle, UK Posts: 1,174	try custom format 00000 __________________ "Have a good time......all the time" Ian Mac

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Mar 28th, 2002, 11:56 AM	#1
David Hamacher New Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1	How do I keep the leading zeroes in the zip codes of databases that I save in ascii text? Formatting them as text or zip codes or general doesn't do it.

Mar 28th, 2002, 12:06 PM	#2
codyswan New Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 22	How about a leading space? Almost any text character will do. The nice thing about a leading space is that it doesn't get in your way if you are printing the data or using it for mail merge. You can also just turn it into text instead of a number using the text function. It still sorts properly. As text, Excel will want to left align instead of right align.

Apr 3rd, 2002, 08:11 AM	#5
tweetyksc New Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 19	format the cell with a custom format. i.e. 00000