Number length headache

[Chad]

I work with 16-digit numbers everyday. For some reason, Excel almos
always lowers the 16th digit to zero. Changing the number format t
text is not always an option, as it often causes a loss o
functionality.

At work, our software is program is able to export databases into a
Excel format. When the program does it, the full 16-digit numbe
remains intact. If I make any adjust to the number, then it lowers th
last digit to zero.

I have been researching this problem for awhile now, everything that
have read seems to indicate that it’s not possible to change this, bu
I wanted to attempt anyways. Going into the Script Editor, the cell
seem to look like this:

<td>403115030080<span style='display:none'>1642</span></td>
<td>376880761</td>

I’m very much new to all of this, but I think that it looks like it
treating the numbers as one, but secretly separating them, behind th
scenes. Is there away to set Excel to do this for all numbers?
Working with thousands of numbers, it’s hard to go into the Scrip
Editor and change each one.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’ve tried everything that ha
come my way at this point.

Thank you,

Cha

 

[Bob Phillips]

Excel only works 15 digits precision

--

HTH

Bob Phillips
... looking out across Poole Harbour to the Purbecks
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

 

[Jerry W. Lewis]

Excel and almost all other computer software uses IEEE double precision
for storing numbers. That will reliably resolve only 15 decimal digits,
hence Excel's not so arbitrary limit.

The VBA Decimal data type supports 28 digit math, but no scientific
notation. Also, you only get the four basic arithmetic functions.

I have never tried it, but
http://groups.google.com/[email protected]
advertises an Add-In that is supposed to offer greatly expanded precision.

Jerry