Changing negative numbers to positives..

[Ela]

Hi,

I imported a column of numbers and most of them are negative (XXXXX)
How can I change them all to positives????? I know that formatting doe
not help as it only changes the appearance of the negative number.

How do I make all those numbers positives without retyping th
list/deleting the '-' sign??

Thanks!
Ela:confused

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
in a helper column (e.g. column B) enter in B1:
=ABS(A1)
and copy down. afterwards select this column, copy it and insert it
again with 'Edit - Paste Special - Values'

 

[Dave R.]

For a one time operation, the easiest way might be to use a formula in the
next column;

=ABS(A1)

this will return a positive number. You can then copy and paste
special>values over the original numbers

Another way would be to sort the data by the numbers, which would group the
positives and negatives separately. Then enter -1 in a blank cell, copy it,
highlight the negative values in your sorted range, go to edit>paste
special>multiply, and the negatives will be positives.

 

[Ken Wright]

Or just do Edit / replace / replace - with nothing

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

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It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
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For a one time operation, the easiest way might be to use a formula in the
next column;

=ABS(A1)

this will return a positive number. You can then copy and paste
special>values over the original numbers

Another way would be to sort the data by the numbers, which would group the
positives and negatives separately. Then enter -1 in a blank cell, copy it,
highlight the negative values in your sorted range, go to edit>paste
special>multiply, and the negatives will be positives.