help me or I will destroy excel

[fedz]

Every time that I put a sequence of numbers into excel (e.g. 4-1-2) it changes those numbers into a date. This does not happen in word, but only in excel and is seriously *cheesing* me off. Can anyone help me switch that function off?
:Dfedz

[Rick Hall]

Change the fromat of your cells to text.

[fedz]

nope, tried that. Still changes it into a date. I tried that before and after copying and pasting. Before doesn't change it, after changes it into a really weird number (try it urself)

[Rick Hall]

I just entered 4-1-2 into excel and it gave me 04/01/2002.
Then I changed the format of the cell to text and re-entered the same thing and it stays as 4-1-2.

[fedz]

I have a list of values to input and it doesn't work. I've tried exactly as you describe but it doesn't work with more than one value. Is there any way apart from editing each cell individually? I don't understand why excel forgets about the original number and changes the (now) date to 37260. I mean, how stupid can it get?

[Confused]

Try using Format for the column or row.
Chas

[fedz]

tried that too sorry :(
This really is driving me crazy

[Rick Hall]

If you select the column or row and then set the format, it will work. You are not formatting the range properly

[sdkfz]

Changing the format to text does indeed change the 4-1-02 to a number, I forget the exact definition but it is something like the number of days since 1/1/1900 that the date you typed was. You can retype the 4-1-02 over this weird number and it will stay as you typed.

To avoid the issue type the apostrophe (right to the left of the enter key) before typing in the data and this over rides the auto replace feature

I think that fixing this is not an excel but a windows change in the regional settings area.

[fedz]

Thanks. If anyone hears of a permanent solution that doesn't involve retyping the whole list tell me!

[Gizmo]

If memory serves me right from my IT classes in school, you type in the value, go to Format>Cells, then find the tab which has the value changing section, e.g converting the value into curreny, there should be a "Normal" option, click that and see what happens. If I just echoed what the others said, forgive me.....

[fedz]

yeah, sorry, tried that
bring on sp3/longhorn with better excel formatting options!

[Hi Ho]

What version of Excel are you using?

[fedz]

Dont really know. Im using xp home/office xp with frontpage created November 2002

[Hi Ho]

I have Office XP so I am assuming I have the same version of Excel. I managed to solve this by selecting the cells BEFORE typing then going to Format > Cells (CTRL-1) and under the number tab select "Text". After that, when I type something like 4-2-1 it stays that way. I don't see why it wouldn't work for you.

[Rick Hall]

If you already entered your data and it automatically converted to a date and then you set the format of the cells to text, then this will not work. You have to set the format of the cells first to text then enter the data.

[redbaron_snoopy]

type "=4-2-1" (w/o the inverted commas)