incorrect numbering

[cmccabe]

Why when I save a document as a .txt do the numbers appear correctly, but when I open that document as an .xls the numbers appear correctly for some and in a date format for others? Can this be prevented?

For example:
In the .txt 10-2084 10-1276 11-0099

In the . xls Oct-84 Oct-76 11-0099

I have tried to chnage the cell formatting but it does not save it.

Thanks.

 

[Joe4]

Yes, when you import it into Excel and go through the Import Wizard, select "Text" for the format of those fields, instead of "General" (General is thinking that they are dates, so it is importing them as dates).

 

[rdw72777]

Are any of the values in your example correct (i.e. is Oct-84 what you want for 10-2084?)

 

[Datsmart]

Excel will convert anything that appears to be a date into a date format.
To avoid the automatic formatting, begin your number with a single quote mark.