Entering a number series into a column

[frobie]

Hello,

I am using Excel 2002 and I am having an issue with what I think shoul
be a simple procedure. What I need to do is insert a series of number
into a column to associate an alarm message with a number, Example:

These is the contents of column C.

C
Row1 Comp A: Flowmeter HI Temp
Row2 Comp A: Flowmeter HI HI Temp
Row3 Comp A: Flowmeter LO Temp
Row4 Comp A: Flowmeter LO LO Temp
Row5 Comp A: Flowmeter LO LO LO Temp

I need to add a series of numbers to the beginning of the text, en
result follows:
C
Row1 000 Comp A: Flowmeter HI Temp
Row2 001 Comp A: Flowmeter HI HI Temp
Row3 002 Comp A: Flowmeter LO Temp
Row4 003 Comp A: Flowmeter LO LO Temp
Row5 004 Comp A: Flowmeter LO LO LO Temp

Is trying to add a series to existing text the way to go or am I WA
off base.

Thanks for any input!!

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
if you want to use these numbers as code to lookup a specific alarm
message you should definetly use a separate column (legt to the
existing) for these series. With this kind of layout you can easily
lookup your messages with VLOOKUP.

Frank

 

[Otto Moehrbach]

You could do that with a macro but if this is a one-time task, do the
following:
Say the Alarm Messages are in Column A starting in A1.
In cell B1, enter '001. That's an apostrophe in front of 001. Drag this
cell down as far as the Alarm Messages go.
In C1, enter:
=B1& " " &A1

Drag this down as far as the others.

Select all the occupied cells in Column C.

Do Edit - Copy

Select A1

Do Edit - Paste Special and select Values. Click OK.

Delete Columns B & C

HTH Otto

 

[Gord Dibben]

frobie

Use a helper column.

In D1 enter ="00"&ROW()&" "&C1

Double-click on fill handle of D1 to fill down.'

Copy Column D and Paste Special(in place)>Values>OK>Esc

Delete original column C.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP