Formatting Cells

[Bill Smith]

Using Access2003: I received a spreadsheet with a list of descriptions and
numbers. The numbers are formated 12345678. I need to format the numbers to
read 123-456-78. I used the custom function (under format
cells/Number/Custom) as such 000-000-00 for the column containing the
numbers. The only way the spreadsheed will desplay it correctly is if I
double-click in each field. I have 9700 records. Is there an easier way?

Thanks!

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

Select an empty cell, format it with your custom format, then copy the empty
cell, select all records and do edit>paste special and select add
That way you will copy the format at the same time you will add zero (empty
cells when calculated are zero in Excel) force a calculation while no value
will be added

 

[Ron Coderre]

It sounds like the "numbers" in Excel are actually TEXT.

Try this:

Select the range of "numbers"

From the Excel main menu:
<data><text to columns>.....Click the [finish] button

Does that help?
***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP

 

[Mike]

Try highlighting the whole column and then use your formating

 

[Bill Smith]

Select an empty cell, format it with your custom format, then copy
the empty cell, select all records and do edit>paste special and
select add That way you will copy the format at the same time you will add
zero
(empty cells when calculated are zero in Excel) force a calculation
while no value will be added

That did it. Thanks Peo!

 

[Bill Smith]

It sounds like the "numbers" in Excel are actually TEXT.

Try this:

Select the range of "numbers"

From the Excel main menu:
<data><text to columns>.....Click the [finish] button

Does that help?
***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP

Thanks Ron. This worked too. You guys just saved me a bunch of work!
Thanks again.