Excel reading numbers as text

GEE WHIZ · May 20th, 2002, 03:22 PM

I often have to copy and paste some numbers from a web site using simply copy and paste. the data is organized as I want, i.e. numbers in one column, description in another. But I can't foot the data! I tried various tricks; changing the format to number, multiply each cell by a number, concatenating number to an apostrophe...but Excel refuses to recognize it as a number. Please help me work an 8-5 day instead of 8-6!

Asala42 · May 20th, 2002, 03:25 PM

Have you tried a Data/Text to Columns/Finish?

Adam

GEE WHIZ · May 20th, 2002, 03:33 PM

No idea what that is, can you walk me through it a little bit?

Asala42 · May 20th, 2002, 03:43 PM

Sure thing,

Highlight one of your columns, then go to Data/choose "Text to Columns"/then hit "finish" (Text to columns opens a wizard but you can just hit finish).

Msg back if it works,
Adam

GEE WHIZ · May 20th, 2002, 03:54 PM

There's one space after each number in the column. Can't do a find/replace to get rid of it though. The numbers will be of varying length too.

GEE WHIZ · May 20th, 2002, 04:01 PM

Hey thanks Azala42. It didn't work the way I had my report originally but I this time I copied and pasted special as text. So the description and numbers were in one column. Your suggestion helped to separate the two and the numbers were recognized as such in this case.

I appreciate it very much. I can make it in time for the happy hours now!

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May 20th, 2002, 03:22 PM	#1
GEE WHIZ New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4	I often have to copy and paste some numbers from a web site using simply copy and paste. the data is organized as I want, i.e. numbers in one column, description in another. But I can't foot the data! I tried various tricks; changing the format to number, multiply each cell by a number, concatenating number to an apostrophe...but Excel refuses to recognize it as a number. Please help me work an 8-5 day instead of 8-6!

May 20th, 2002, 03:25 PM	#2
Asala42 Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southfield,MI USA Posts: 1,030	Have you tried a Data/Text to Columns/Finish? Adam

May 20th, 2002, 03:33 PM	#3
GEE WHIZ New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4	No idea what that is, can you walk me through it a little bit?

May 20th, 2002, 03:43 PM	#4
Asala42 Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southfield,MI USA Posts: 1,030	Sure thing, Highlight one of your columns, then go to Data/choose "Text to Columns"/then hit "finish" (Text to columns opens a wizard but you can just hit finish). Msg back if it works, Adam

May 20th, 2002, 03:54 PM	#5
GEE WHIZ New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4	There's one space after each number in the column. Can't do a find/replace to get rid of it though. The numbers will be of varying length too.

May 20th, 2002, 04:01 PM	#6
GEE WHIZ New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4	Hey thanks Azala42. It didn't work the way I had my report originally but I this time I copied and pasted special as text. So the description and numbers were in one column. Your suggestion helped to separate the two and the numbers were recognized as such in this case. I appreciate it very much. I can make it in time for the happy hours now!