How do I format fields to show preceding zeros?

[Marie]

I am having a difficult time to format a field that shows the preceding
zeros, for example, 000210 shows as 210. When I look at the number is shows
000210, but when I put my mouse on the field it only shows 210. I'm trying
to run a VLOOKUP and the table I imported has the preceeding zeros and I can
not change the formatting... So I'm trying to match.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[Don Guillett]

to format use format>custom>000000

 

[Gord Dibben]

Marie

There are a couple of spots to look at a number.

1. In the cell

2. In the Formula Bar

Which of these shows 210 and which shows 000210.

If the formula bar shows 000210 it would mean the numbers are actually text
values which are imported, I guess.

Leading 0's in the cell and 210 in the formula bar would mean that the cell is
simply formatted as Custom 000000

I think we can help, but to me your description is ambiguous.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP