Save As TXT to Convert to Text

[epowell]

I have a spreadsheet containing numeric and alpha numeric data that needs to be converted to text before I can use it in my printer software. The only way I can get it to work is to save the spreadsheet as a text file, and then import that file into excel, marking the column as text in the import dialog box. Is there an easier way to do this? This imported file must be an excel file.

I tried creating a new spreadsheet, changing the format of the column to text, and then copying and pasting "values only" from my original spreadsheet, but this doesn't work.

Thank you.

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Welcome to MrExcel.

You can convert a column of numbers to text using Data|Text To Columns and checking Text under 'Column data format' at Step 3.

 

[epowell]

Andrew-

Thank you, that is much faster and will work perfect!

Do you know why I have to do this in the first place? If I select a column and change the format to text, isn't it now text? Or as I mentioned above, if I have a new sheet with a blank column formated as text and I do a paste special values only, shouldn't that data in the new text formated column be text?

Thanks again!

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Formatting a cell only affects its appearance, not what it contains.

 

[epowell]

How do I know what a cell contains? How do I know if data is text or just formated as text?

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

You can use the ISNUMBER and ISTEXT functions.

 

[epowell]

And there is no function to convert to text? Only import as text or text to columns?

Thanks again for all of your help!

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

You can use the TEXT function:

=TEXT(A1,"@")