Convert text to number error

N

Nighabi

New Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
34
I am getting data from an external source and there are a couple of values that are stored in the data as a string. I am using =value(fieldname) to convert them in a separate column but am getting a #VALUE if the number being converted is a negative. The string field is putting the negative sign at the end of the digits, i.e. 17.70-
Any ideas?
 

Excel Facts

When did Power Query debut in Excel?
Although it was an add-in in Excel 2010 & Excel 2013, Power Query became a part of Excel in 2016, in Data, Get & Transform Data.
Sort by date Sort by votes
Thanks, that would have gotten me close, I guess I wasn't clear. If the value was a negative I needed it to remain a negative. Also, all values weren't negative.
I ended up going with something like this
=if(right(a1),1)="-",value(left(a1,len(a1)-1)*-1,value(a1))
In hindsight I think the replace would be a little more elegant with the IF, I may go back and rewrite it.
Thanks again.
jason
 
Upvote 0
REPLACE will keep your negative numbers. Try,

<b>Excel 2007</b><table cellpadding="2.5px" rules="all" style=";background-color: #FFFFFF;border: 1px solid;border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #A6AAB6"><colgroup><col width="25px" style="background-color: #E0E0F0" /><col /><col /></colgroup><thead><tr style=" background-color: #E0E0F0;text-align: center;color: #161120"><th></th><th>A</th><th>B</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr ><td style="color: #161120;text-align: center;">1</td><td style="text-align: right;;">17.71-</td><td style="text-align: right;;">17.71</td></tr><tr ><td style="color: #161120;text-align: center;">2</td><td style=";">-17.72-</td><td style="text-align: right;;">-17.72</td></tr><tr ><td style="color: #161120;text-align: center;">3</td><td style="text-align: right;;">-22.76</td><td style="text-align: right;;">-22.76</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="width:3.6em;font-weight:bold;margin:0;padding:0.2em 0.6em 0.2em 0.5em;border: 1px solid #A6AAB6;border-top:none;text-align: center;background-color: #E0E0F0;color: #161120">Sheet1</p><br /><br /><table width="85%" cellpadding="2.5px" rules="all" style=";border: 2px solid black;border-collapse:collapse;padding: 0.4em;background-color: #FFFFFF" ><tr><td style="padding:6px" ><b>Worksheet Formulas</b><table cellpadding="2.5px" width="100%" rules="all" style="border: 1px solid;text-align:center;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #A6AAB6"><thead><tr style=" background-color: #E0E0F0;color: #161120"><th width="10px">Cell</th><th style="text-align:left;padding-left:5px;">Formula</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th width="10px" style=" background-color: #E0E0F0;color: #161120">B1</th><td style="text-align:left">=REPLACE(<font color="Blue">A1,LEN(<font color="Red">A1</font>),0+(<font color="Red">RIGHT(<font color="Green">A1</font>)="-"</font>),""</font>)+0</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></table><br />
 
Upvote 0
Nighabi said:
Thanks, that would have gotten me close, I guess I wasn't clear. If the value was a negative I needed it to remain a negative. Also, all values weren't negative.
I ended up going with something like this
=if(right(a1),1)="-",value(left(a1,len(a1)-1)*-1,value(a1))
In hindsight I think the replace would be a little more elegant with the IF, I may go back and rewrite it.
Thanks again.
jason
Click to expand...
If this is your data...

Sheet1

<TABLE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 2pt; PADDING-LEFT: 2pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><COLGROUP><COL style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; WIDTH: 30px"><COL style="WIDTH: 61px"></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><TD></TD><TD>A</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">1</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">82-</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">2</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">64</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">3</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">1-</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">4</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">46</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">5</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">53.02-</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">6</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">98</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">7</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">39</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">8</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">63</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">9</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">11-</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">10</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">15</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>




You can convert that in-place using Text to Columns.
  • Select the range in question
  • Goto Data>Text to Columns
  • Next
  • Next
  • In step 3 of the wizard click the Advanced button
  • Check "Trailing minus for negative numbers"
  • OK
  • Finish
The results:

Sheet1

<TABLE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 2pt; PADDING-LEFT: 2pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><COLGROUP><COL style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; WIDTH: 30px"><COL style="WIDTH: 61px"></COLGROUP><TBODY><TR style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><TD></TD><TD>A</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">1</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">-82</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">2</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">64</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">3</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">-1</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">4</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">46</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">5</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">-53.02</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">6</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">98</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">7</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">39</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">8</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">63</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">9</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">-11</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 17px"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cacaca; TEXT-ALIGN: center">10</TD><TD style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">15</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

CPGDeveloper
  • Solved
Frustrating CSV Conversion Issue
Replies
1
Views
580
Joe4
Joe4
J
  • Question Question
Formatting error when switching from Mac to PC
Replies
6
Views
94
RoryA
RoryA
L
  • Solved
VBA Replace All '/' in a sheet, except for formulas
Replies
4
Views
168
MARK858
MARK858
D
  • Question Question
How cell data is stored in a CSV File
Replies
4
Views
678
rlv01
R
T
  • Question Question
Cant convert to True numbers
Replies
1
Views
397
Alex Blakenburg
A

Forum statistics

Threads
1,224,599
Messages
6,179,831
Members
452,947
Latest member
Gerry_F

Share this page

We've detected that you are using an adblocker.

We have a great community of people providing Excel help here, but the hosting costs are enormous. You can help keep this site running by allowing ads on MrExcel.com.
Allow Ads at MrExcel

Which adblocker are you using?

Disable AdBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Pause on this site" option.
Go back

Disable AdBlock Plus

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock Plus

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the toggle to disable it for "mrexcel.com".
Go back

Disable uBlock Origin

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock Origin

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back

Disable uBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back
Back
Top