Copy Paste turns numeric string into Scientific Notation

D

David

Thanks for the quick reply,

Unfortunately, whatever technique is used has to be explained to all users
that need it. I can't identify the columns beforehand, as I don't know what
will all be selected.

Even if it was only one field had the issue everytime, I can't anticipate
it's column location as it will vary depending on the analysis.

I expect there are probably about 30-40 of these type of columns in the
datawarehouse that could be copied out.
 
D

David

Hello,

My environment is Windows 2000/XP and Excel 2000.

I have users that regularly copy data out of our Datawarehouse tool and
paste into excel.
Some data is a part numbers that are a long "string" of numbers some with
trailing zero's that are interpreted as scientific notation. (they need
retained in text format.)

If I preformat the spreadsheet as text, it pastes fine, but autosum does not
recognize other numeric columns for summing.

If I paste, and then reformat only the offending part number column as text,
the scientific notation rows do not change unless I actually enter the
column for editing, a simple F2 on the cell and Enter takes care of it. But
when you have several thousand rows, I can't expect anyone to do that.

Is anyone aware of a way that would update the entire column at once or some
other workaround for number strings to be recognized as text?

I can't ask users to preformat only the number string columns as they vary
depending on what they choose to copy out.
Often I'm very thrilled they can copy and paste from one application to
another without calling.

Any Help Greatly appreciated.


Dave
 
A

AlfD

Hi!

Am I right in thinking you don't mind doing the reformatting at th
"end" of the process ?

Pasting happens: the results look wrong, but sort that later?

If so, I sense there are just a few (known already to you?) column
which need this treatment.

That could be dealt with by recording a macro of yourself reformattin
those columns in their entirety and applying this when it is needed.

Al
 
A

AlfD

Hi!

Yes: messy!

But might there be a final set of formattings which would "correct
anything your users might paste into (irrespective of where it come
from)?

If *not*, we might have hit the buffers.

But if *so*, then isn't there a final tidying operation which woul
reformat all columns which might need it (whether or not they actuall
do).

With a suitable macro, such a situation could require literally no mor
than a single click for your user (or you) to do the appropriat
formatting. Hence no learning requirement for users - beyond clicking
button....

I'm knitting fog, here, to some extent. Is there some way you can giv
a suitable instance of these "problems"? (Not a download, please).

Al
 
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