the numbers are always in text and i cant seem to change them???

N

neil

When ever i start excel 2003 and type numbers they come up as text so i can
not use any functions, i have tried formatting the cells to numbers but this
does not work, i have even re-installed office with no luck, can any body
help me
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

When ever i start excel 2003 and type numbers they come up as text so i can
not use any functions, i have tried formatting the cells to numbers but this
does not work, i have even re-installed office with no luck, can any body
help me
Click to expand...

You need to format the cells as Number or General BEFORE you enter the numbers.


--ron
 
G

Gord Dibben

Neil

Does this occur with every workbook? New workbooks? Existing workbooks? Just
one workbook?

First make sure the cells are formatted as General and not Text.

A Format change alone after the fact will not change the data to numbers.
Excel must be forced to recognize the data as numbers.

To change existing data to numbers, copy an empty cell.

Select range of data and Paste Special>Add>OK>Esc.

Data should now be numbers.


Gord Dibben Excel MVP
 
N

neil

I have tried both answere's and none has worked for me, the problem occurs on
all worksheets wether they are new or old.
 
N

neil

Gord,

This occurs with every workbook? New workbooks? Existing workbooks? i have
tried your suggestion with no luck, i have even re installed excel, any more
suggestions?????
 
D

Dave Peterson

If you close excel and restart it in Safe mode, does it still occur?

Close excel
windows start button|Run
excel /safe

Start typing in that new workbook--not a file that you open.

I'm guessing that you have a book.xlt template workbook in your XLStart folder
that has all the cells formatted as text.




If it works ok when you start in safe mode, then close excel and try this:

Use windows explorer and search for XLStart.
Move all the book.xlt (along with sheet.xlt) to a different (out of the way)
location.

Then try opening excel normally. Start a new workbook to test it out.

If that works, you'll still have to fix any existing workbook--just format the
cells you want to change as General.
 
G

Gord Dibben

Neil

My next shot would have been basically what Dave P. has suggested.

I think the workbook/worksheet template you're using is formatted as text and
you should start over with the default File>New...>Blank Workbook that Excel
provides.

This default workbook is not based on the one you have in your XLSTART folder.

I am surprised however, that the "copy a blank cell formatted to General" does
not fix the formatting of the cells.


Gord
 
N

neil

Dave & Gord,

I have started excel up in safe mode with still the same problem, i also had
a look at the XLSTART folder there were no documents in there. Any thing else
i can try??
 
E

eyane

I get this problem a lot when i import from another data source. Add a column
and multiply the original cell by 1. For ex, in cell B1 Type =A1*1
 
G

Gord Dibben

Neil

May not do any good but can't harm if you send me by email a book with the
problem.

Change the DOT and AT to . and @ in my email address.


Gord
 
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