Using function PROPER doesn't work well

Question

I have a number of names in an excel 2010 database - Last Name & First Name. The Last Name is in column B. Inserted a new column to the left of B and put in the =PROPER(C3) [the new column letter, obviously]. Column D has the First Name. New column to the left and in goes PROPER but it doesn't work. The =PROPER(E3) sits there. I put a new column to the right of the First Name column and the same thing. No lower case. This has happened before. I would appreciate knowing what I am doing wrong.

Many thanks. Norm.

Answer 1

Norm: I'm not sure why one format sticks and the other doesn't. However, the macro isn't dependent on cell formatting. It/they just convert the text to the chosen Case. No worries on the formatting.

Answer 2

"sits there", I assume this means you can see the formula and not the result. Try choosing the dropdown where it says "Text" about the middle of the Home ribbon up top, and change it to General. You may need to re-enter the formula.

=Proper works just fine for me. There are also macros that I use all the time here:

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/ChangingCase.aspx

I have the one that changes the case of the selected text so that I can run it on any text in any Excel workbook because I store it in my personal.xlsb file. A Google search will tell you how to do that. Or ask!

:)

Answer 3

Thanks, Anne. Had a go with the macro and we are "now out of the woods". Very much obliged. Interestingly enough, the Last Name column changed the formatting "on its own" to Number from Text and that is the one that worked in the initial time.

Norm.

Answer 4

Thanks for your note. Yes, the formula just "sits there" like any usual cell entry. The Last Name column C is fine. But the column E as well as column F doesn't work. When I changed "Text" to "General", it worked. So when I set up the macro, I will have to take into account changing the text to general. I guess I'm curious now why one column (Last Name) works and the First Name columns (1 on each side of the initial list don't work unless one changes the text to general?

I will certainly give the macros that you show on the hyperlink a try. In our time zone, it is getting late so will do it tomorrow.

Many thanks. Norm.