Can't paste into Excel

[kevs]

Here's a new one, at least for me.

I've selected a long , long serial number it's like 13 digits and want to
paste into a cell. This is a document that list all my software serial
numbers.

But every time I try to paste, (I even tried with new blank worksheet), I
get this: 2.74165E+19 -- regardless of what cell or what worksheet I try
to paste it into.

I have no idea what this is or what it means. Any ideas appreciated.
Thanks!!!!!!


OS 10.3.4
Office 2004

 

[Harvey Waxman]

But every time I try to paste, (I even tried with new blank worksheet), I
get this: 2.74165E+19 -- regardless of what cell or what worksheet I try
to paste it into.

Try formatting as a number instead of general and enlarge the column to display
the number. Hope this helps you.

Harvey


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[kevs]

Try formatting as a number instead of general and enlarge the column to
display
the number. Hope this helps you.

Harvey

Harvey:
The column is large enough.
Don't understand what formatting as a number means.

OS 10.3.4
Office 2004

 

[Bernard Rey]

kevs wrote :

The column is large enough.
Don't understand what formatting as a number means.

Format your cell(s) as TEXT, then paste the value. To do this, get the
"Cell..." item from the "Format" menu, and pick the "Text" line in the list.
Then copy your 13 digit SN and do a "Paste special..." from the "Edit" menu,
selecting "Values" from the list.

It's usually a good solution to format the cells to text when it comes to
serial numbers, as it will sometimes have a leading zero which would be hard
to display otherwise...

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Harvey:
The column is large enough.
Don't understand what formatting as a number means.

OS 10.3.4
Office 2004

Kevs,

Excel is converting your value to scientific notation. After the paste,
reformat the cell. Select format-Cells. Click on the number tab, and select
number as the format. Alternatively, you can enter an apostrophe in the cell
and then paste. This will treat the value as text.

 

[kevs]

Kevs,

Excel is converting your value to scientific notation. After the paste,
reformat the cell. Select format-Cells. Click on the number tab, and select
number as the format. Alternatively, you can enter an apostrophe in the cell
and then paste. This will treat the value as text.

Thanks Bob, worked, almost. Of the 15 digits strangely the last 5 or so
were not right, I did those by hand.

Wonder why excel takes it upon itself to convert that to a scientific
notation?

OS 10.3.4
Office 2004