Find and replace numbers

[Jaffabfc]

Hi All,

i am usually quite good with Excel but one thing is bugging me regarding this and i cant find a work around although i can guess its quite simple.

When i input lots of data to a spreadsheet it usually starts with numbers.

So 123456 for example, when i vlookup against some other data in another sheet it doesnt recognise it.

I then have to find and replace all the number columns and find 1 and replace with 1 then 2 3 4 etc.

is there a quicker way to do this instead of doing all this?

i am guessing its something to do with the text format or something.

thanks

 

[Joe4]

Yes, the value that you are looking up and the range you are looking for the match MUST be the same data type.
If one is numbers, and the the other is numbers entered as text, it will not work.
You can easily switch all numbers entered as text to numbers by selecting that column, going to Text to Columns (under the Data menu), and then clicking Finish.