Cell Won't Accept Numerical Data

[Chatelaine]

I'm trying to edit one cell, and Excel 2003 refuses to accept any changes.
The problem with the cell is that it keeps mis-aligning. I've tried clearing
it, and that works, but when I re-enter the data, it insists on entering the
data the same way. I've tried editing in the fx function bar, but the
program still insists on entering the same data the same way, that is,
mis-aligned. I've tried turning off the enable auto complete for cell
values, and that didn't help. Then I tried following some MS troubleshooting
steps: double-click the cell, delete the data (so far, so good), then alt +
enter, and then enter again, to begin entering the data. Well now, I can't
enter any data, period. The cell no longer accepts any data. The rest of my
sheet looks great, except for my first numerical entry, which is screwing
everything up. The only other thing I can think of is to do the whole sheet
over, that is, start with a new document. Can anyone help me out on this?
Thanks.

 

[Bernard Liengme]

Select the cell; sue Edit | Clear | Clear All to get rid of formatting and
alignment
Now type the number or text

Why ALT+Enter? That is to break a text entry into two lines
Tell us what happens

 

[ShaneDevenshire]

Hi,

Based on your title, it suggests that the cell is formatted as Text. You
could clear that by choosing Format, Cells, Number tab, and pick Number or
General or Currency, but not Text. After clicking OK, reenter the number.

Text is always left aligned by default in Excel. If a number is entered as
text most calculations using it will fail if they are expecting a number.
Finally, changing the Format is not enough, you must reenter the number.

Bernard has given you a solution which works because it resets the format to
General and then you reenter the number.

 

[Chatelaine]

Thanks to both you and Bernard for clearing up my confusion. I think I'm on
my way to mastering these functions that both of you have been kind enough to
address. Thanks.

 

[Chatelaine]

It worked, thank you.

Select the cell; sue Edit | Clear | Clear All to get rid of formatting and
alignment
Now type the number or text

Why ALT+Enter? That is to break a text entry into two lines
Tell us what happens
--
Bernard V Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme
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