Number changes to formula

N

nohotin

When I paste a credit card number into Excel spreadsheet, it either changes
it to a formula (like 4.22242223242452+15) or rounds the last two digits UP.
I've tried ALL the number formats, and it still happens.
 
S

Sloth

Number can only be 15 digits long. Large numbers are usually shown in
scientific format when using General format. If you want the number to show
you will need to format it as text before you enter the number, or precede
your number with an apostrephe like so
'1234567890123456
(NOTE: The apostrophe won't show)
 
N

nohotin

No. That doesn't work. It won't take 16 digit numbers without either changing
them to a formula or altering the last digit to a 0.
 
V

vezerid

Did you follow Dave O's suggestion? If you Format|Cells... Number tab,
select the Text format, it will accept your credit card number as
entered without any loss of precision.

Kostis Vezerides
 
P

Peo Sjoblom

I think what the OP meant was if he/she could change the format on already
entered truncated numbers, it also looks as he/she pastes info
as well
 
S

Sloth

When you insert numbers that have more than 15 digits, you permanently lose
any digits beyond the 15th (I don't think it rounds, it simply turns them
into 0's). You have no choice but to retype the number if you didn't format
the cell as text beforehand or use an apostrophe to begin with.

Also, if you are copy and pasting information, you might need to paste
special and select values. Sometimes when you paste a number it will paste
the number format as well.
 
Top