input preferences

[shaneb]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

this should be simple. How do I change preferences so numbers get input as numbers not text?

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Shane -

AFAIK, there is no Preference setting for Numbers v. Text - its matter of
Formatting the cells. However, the default formatting (General) recognizes
what you enter based on the content - text as text, dates as dates, numbers
as numbers, etc. - as long as the entry is typed correctly. For example;

1234.567 = value (number)
a3t 84? - x = text (any Spaces, letters, or other characters which "don't
belong" in a value)

There are also some entries which cause a cell's formatting to be changed
from General to something more specific, such as;

6/20/2008 = Date/Time
7:25 = Date/Time
32% = Percentage
$123.45 = Currency


In order for anyone to provide more help you'll need to give a much more
specific description of what you're entering, how you're entering it,
details about the workbook & what makes you think the entries are being
formatted as text. Is this happening in a particular cell, a particular
sheet, *all* workbooks? Be as accurate & complete as you can.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[shaneb]

Thanks for the reply,
it's no big deal, I'm just inputting numbers without decimals and they come up as text with that annoying little triangle in the top corner of every cell. Just thought if there was an easy way to lose that I'd do it.

 

[CyberTaz]

I assume you mean the green flag in the top left corner of the cell & that
selecting the cell produces a SmartTag. When you click the SmartTag button
the menu indicates Number Stored as Text.

If so, that means that the cell has been previously formatted as Text (using
Format> Cells). If this is a pre-existing sheet that's one thing, but if new
sheets are automatically doing this it could be an indication of an
underlying problem - the default formatting for cells shouldn't be Text.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[shaneb]

Yes the worksheets were imported from windows office.
After starting a new workbook there is no problem. Thanks for your help!