converting text to numeric data

B

babooz

I have data that I am copying and pasting from a web site that I have to
import as text and then manually insert column widths so that it will not all
be placed in one column but into separate columns. My problem comes in
because I cannot now use the data in a formula. It will not compute because
it is in text format. I have tried the paste special > multiply trick but
that doesn't work because there is a space prior to the number and that is
throwing off the equation. can anyone help me? Do I have to import as text?
If I do a copy & paste then the info goes into the cell A1 only and notthing
into the other cells.
 
B

Biff

Hi!

Here are some things to try:

Select the range of cells that contain the numbers.
Goto Data>Text to Columns
Select Fixed width
Click Next, Next, Finish

If the "spaces" were standard char 32 spaces this should remove them and
convert the values to numbers.

If the "spaces" are char 160 (html nbsp;) T to C won't work.

Select the range of numbers
Goto Edit>Replace
Find what: ALT 0160 (hold down the ALT key and using the numeric keypad type
0160)
Replace with: nothing, leave this empty
Replace All

Biff
 
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