convert text to numbers

D

drs

I have negative numbers in my worksheet that are text such as –6.90%. I try
converting them to number using the paste special multiple or add and they
stay as text. When I sort the columns in descending order they continue to
come out as text and right justified. could it be the the negative sign is
not a real negative sign.
–6.90%
–5.61%
–5.37%
–35.80%
 
A

Arvi Laanemets

Hi

Copy one minus-sign
Select the range with values. Check, that range is formatted as numeric or
general.
Replace all minus-signs with "-". It's done! (you had there 'long -', which
you get when you enter double '-' p.e. in MS Word.)
 
D

drs

I think I'm doing this wrong. I selected my range of cells and made all cells
'percentage'.
I tried a replace "--" to"-" and it didn't find anything.
 
A

Arvi Laanemets

No!

You must copy 'double-minus' from one of cells.
– (that is what you have there, it's ASCII code = 150) doesn't equal --
 
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