Auto date conversion

[tydurm7]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I am copying text tables from Word into Excel. One column represents athletes' heights in a foot-inches format (ex/ 5-11 for 5'11") I want to retain that format but excel's ridiculous auto-formating converts it to 11-May. I've read elsewhere that I should pre-format the cells to Text. I tried this (I think) by selecting Format > Cells then double clicking "Text" prior to pasting the table in Excel. This didn't do anything. I then highlighted the cells and double clicked "Text" in the Format > Cells menu. I'm looking for a simple solution because I'm pasting hundreds of rosters into Excel. Any ideas?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I am copying text tables from Word into Excel. One column represents
athletes' heights in a foot-inches format (ex/ 5-11 for 5'11") I want to
retain that format but excel's ridiculous auto-formating converts it to
11-May. I've read elsewhere that I should pre-format the cells to Text. I
tried this (I think) by selecting Format > Cells then double clicking "Text"
prior to pasting the table in Excel. This didn't do anything. I then
highlighted the cells and double clicked "Text" in the Format > Cells menu.
I'm looking for a simple solution because I'm pasting hundreds of rosters
into Excel. Any ideas?

Easiest way?

In Word do a Find and Replace (e.g, replace "-" with "--", then Copy.
Paste into XL and reverse the process.

PITA? Yes, but XL's parser follows pretty rigid rules.

 

[CyberTaz]

Another option:

In the Excel file pre-format the cells where the heights will fall as Text,
then copy the Word table, go to the sheet & use Edit> Paste Special - Text.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac