Excel math operations on text

Question

Hi,
Can someone explain this ; if I put number into cells and format as text,

and then use equals so ; = range, I get the following;

So the first number looks like text, but the other, right side, as number, but using F9 evaluation they are all numbers? does anyone know why the first value is on the left side? Just curious.

Richard.

Answer 1

I was really just curious as to why the first value was on the left,

[....]

Anyway, I re selected and re-entered and they all aligned on the right.

Again, I cannot say because you have not provided the Excel file.

Wild guess: perhaps the cell alignment was set to the right, overriding default behavior.

Word to wise: Do not rely on alignment to infer data type. Use ISNUMBER and ISTEXT.

Answer 2

Simply changing the format of a cell does not immediately change the type of the cell value.

If G5 has the value that appears to be 1, note that =ISTEXT(G5) returns FALSE and =ISNUMBER(G5) returns TRUE.

In order to change the type of the cell value, you must "re-enter" the value or formula. For example, select G5, press f2, then press Enter.

Answer 3

In reply to Shakiru Soenu:

If it's text why does it show up as 'number' in F9 evaluation?

Exactly. And I already answered that question.

Answer 4

If it's text why does it show up as 'number' in F9 evaluation? if you use a formula with text values they will be enclosed in quotation marks

if you look at the previous screen shot, the first value is not in quotes indicating text, but is still on the left?

Richard

Answer 5

Hi RichardDrake1505!

Thank you for writing to the Microsoft Answer Community Forum, I am Shakiru, an independent advisor and a user like you, and I am glad to be helping you out today.

The First value is on the Left because it is a text value, you can change it to a Number by Selecting the General option in the Number format under the Home Menu. This will send the value "1" to the Right.

Kind Regards, Shakiru

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