Thread: very annoying problem Please help

Hi,
I am very upset, sorry
I am sure this is simple for most, but. I use excel more as a database. I do
not use many formulas etc. And it serves me well.
Excel 2003 why can I NOT paste a number into a cell???? without excel
messing with it. ex: 123497865 I want that pasted exactly as it looks. I
have tried all 4 paste options. It's driving me crazy.
I want excel to do magic whebn I choose, is this not possible?
Sucks really
Luke

Sorry, forgot. I also tried ALL formats of the cells,rows. etc. I want this
I get stuff like this 7.4019E+22, not the numbers
thanks
Luke


"Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:OBNfDomtFHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
> I am very upset, sorry
> I am sure this is simple for most, but. I use excel more as a database. I
> do not use many formulas etc. And it serves me well.
> Excel 2003 why can I NOT paste a number into a cell???? without excel
> messing with it. ex: 123497865 I want that pasted exactly as it looks. I
> have tried all 4 paste options. It's driving me crazy.
> I want excel to do magic whebn I choose, is this not possible?
> Sucks really
> Luke
>

Sorry for all this but I am so very stressed, I have work to do, just some
lists with relavant data. No problem in excel 97. Anyway, obviously it is
some sort of preference or sometging. I have all set to defaults. I cannot
even type in a 18 digit number without this 7.40E+22
Please shoot me
Luke
"Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:%23oRZuqmtFHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Sorry, forgot. I also tried ALL formats of the cells,rows. etc. I want
> this I get stuff like this 7.4019E+22, not the numbers
> thanks
> Luke
>
>
> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:OBNfDomtFHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> Hi,
>> I am very upset, sorry
>> I am sure this is simple for most, but. I use excel more as a database. I
>> do not use many formulas etc. And it serves me well.
>> Excel 2003 why can I NOT paste a number into a cell???? without excel
>> messing with it. ex: 123497865 I want that pasted exactly as it looks. I
>> have tried all 4 paste options. It's driving me crazy.
>> I want excel to do magic whebn I choose, is this not possible?
>> Sucks really
>> Luke
>>
>
>

It says General, even a brand new worksheet, but still numbers get changed
to scientif format, ????????? cell is not too short
luke the pest ready to commit suicide

"Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:%23G5OdymtFHA.904@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Sorry for all this but I am so very stressed, I have work to do, just some
> lists with relavant data. No problem in excel 97. Anyway, obviously it is
> some sort of preference or sometging. I have all set to defaults. I cannot
> even type in a 18 digit number without this 7.40E+22
> Please shoot me
> Luke
> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:%23oRZuqmtFHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>> Sorry, forgot. I also tried ALL formats of the cells,rows. etc. I want
>> this I get stuff like this 7.4019E+22, not the numbers
>> thanks
>> Luke
>>
>>
>> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> news:OBNfDomtFHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi,
>>> I am very upset, sorry
>>> I am sure this is simple for most, but. I use excel more as a database.
>>> I do not use many formulas etc. And it serves me well.
>>> Excel 2003 why can I NOT paste a number into a cell???? without excel
>>> messing with it. ex: 123497865 I want that pasted exactly as it looks. I
>>> have tried all 4 paste options. It's driving me crazy.
>>> I want excel to do magic whebn I choose, is this not possible?
>>> Sucks really
>>> Luke
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Wow, Frank. Cool a bit before you have a coronary. Format your cell as a
number with 0 places after the decimal point. I've also had it work with no
formatting for the content but made the cell just a bit bigger.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:Oj1Ir7mtFHA.3252@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> It says General, even a brand new worksheet, but still numbers get changed
> to scientif format, ????????? cell is not too short
> luke the pest ready to commit suicide
>
> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:%23G5OdymtFHA.904@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>> Sorry for all this but I am so very stressed, I have work to do, just
>> some lists with relavant data. No problem in excel 97. Anyway, obviously
>> it is some sort of preference or sometging. I have all set to defaults. I
>> cannot even type in a 18 digit number without this 7.40E+22
>> Please shoot me
>> Luke
>> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> news:%23oRZuqmtFHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>>> Sorry, forgot. I also tried ALL formats of the cells,rows. etc. I want
>>> this I get stuff like this 7.4019E+22, not the numbers
>>> thanks
>>> Luke
>>>
>>>
>>> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>>> news:OBNfDomtFHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I am very upset, sorry
>>>> I am sure this is simple for most, but. I use excel more as a database.
>>>> I do not use many formulas etc. And it serves me well.
>>>> Excel 2003 why can I NOT paste a number into a cell???? without excel
>>>> messing with it. ex: 123497865 I want that pasted exactly as it looks.
>>>> I have tried all 4 paste options. It's driving me crazy.
>>>> I want excel to do magic whebn I choose, is this not possible?
>>>> Sucks really
>>>> Luke
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

You mentioned 18 digit numbers.

XL can only work with 15 digits.
That's *true* numbers ... numbers to be used in calculations.

If you're using your numbers as text, like in credit card numbers, with no
calculations connected to them, you can *pre-format* the cells as "text",
OR, on an individual cell by cell basis, you could prefix each entry with an
apostrophe, which will be visible in the formula bar, but will not show in
the cells.
In that kind of format, you could use *any* number of digits that you'll
need.

--
HTH,

RD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:Oj1Ir7mtFHA.3252@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> It says General, even a brand new worksheet, but still numbers get changed
> to scientif format, ????????? cell is not too short
> luke the pest ready to commit suicide
>
> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:%23G5OdymtFHA.904@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > Sorry for all this but I am so very stressed, I have work to do, just
some
> > lists with relavant data. No problem in excel 97. Anyway, obviously it
is
> > some sort of preference or sometging. I have all set to defaults. I
cannot
> > even type in a 18 digit number without this 7.40E+22
> > Please shoot me
> > Luke
> > "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> > news:%23oRZuqmtFHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> >> Sorry, forgot. I also tried ALL formats of the cells,rows. etc. I want
> >> this I get stuff like this 7.4019E+22, not the numbers
> >> thanks
> >> Luke
> >>
> >>
> >> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> >> news:OBNfDomtFHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> >>> Hi,
> >>> I am very upset, sorry
> >>> I am sure this is simple for most, but. I use excel more as a
database.
> >>> I do not use many formulas etc. And it serves me well.
> >>> Excel 2003 why can I NOT paste a number into a cell???? without excel
> >>> messing with it. ex: 123497865 I want that pasted exactly as it looks.
I
> >>> have tried all 4 paste options. It's driving me crazy.
> >>> I want excel to do magic whebn I choose, is this not possible?
> >>> Sucks really
> >>> Luke
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

Joanne and Ragdyer,
thanks for the responses. Sorry for the excitement, was very upset. I did
try format as text but it didn't work. That's what set me off I think.But I
went back after closing it and now it works. I figured text was OK and I
knew the cell had to big enough. must have left something somewhere in the
sheet or somethingh. Anyway I now have the greenflag telling me their is an
error. I figured I should choose it is text as a number , ignore?
Anyway thanks so much I have alot to learn and I will
Frank

"Ragdyer" <RagDyer@cutoutmsn.com> wrote in message
news:eSkcqQotFHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> You mentioned 18 digit numbers.
>
> XL can only work with 15 digits.
> That's *true* numbers ... numbers to be used in calculations.
>
> If you're using your numbers as text, like in credit card numbers, with no
> calculations connected to them, you can *pre-format* the cells as "text",
> OR, on an individual cell by cell basis, you could prefix each entry with
> an
> apostrophe, which will be visible in the formula bar, but will not show in
> the cells.
> In that kind of format, you could use *any* number of digits that you'll
> need.
>
> --
> HTH,
>
> RD
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:Oj1Ir7mtFHA.3252@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> It says General, even a brand new worksheet, but still numbers get
>> changed
>> to scientif format, ????????? cell is not too short
>> luke the pest ready to commit suicide
>>
>> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> news:%23G5OdymtFHA.904@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>> > Sorry for all this but I am so very stressed, I have work to do, just
> some
>> > lists with relavant data. No problem in excel 97. Anyway, obviously it
> is
>> > some sort of preference or sometging. I have all set to defaults. I
> cannot
>> > even type in a 18 digit number without this 7.40E+22
>> > Please shoot me
>> > Luke
>> > "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> > news:%23oRZuqmtFHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>> >> Sorry, forgot. I also tried ALL formats of the cells,rows. etc. I want
>> >> this I get stuff like this 7.4019E+22, not the numbers
>> >> thanks
>> >> Luke
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> >> news:OBNfDomtFHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> >>> Hi,
>> >>> I am very upset, sorry
>> >>> I am sure this is simple for most, but. I use excel more as a
> database.
>> >>> I do not use many formulas etc. And it serves me well.
>> >>> Excel 2003 why can I NOT paste a number into a cell???? without excel
>> >>> messing with it. ex: 123497865 I want that pasted exactly as it
>> >>> looks.
> I
>> >>> have tried all 4 paste options. It's driving me crazy.
>> >>> I want excel to do magic whebn I choose, is this not possible?
>> >>> Sucks really
>> >>> Luke
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>

Without knowing what the purpose of that column is, we can't answer that.
Take a look at your data and then decide whether it's safe to do that.

Good luck - and I'm glad to see that you've finally taken a breath. ;-)

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:%23wd440otFHA.3040@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Joanne and Ragdyer,
> thanks for the responses. Sorry for the excitement, was very upset. I did
> try format as text but it didn't work. That's what set me off I think.But
> I
> went back after closing it and now it works. I figured text was OK and I
> knew the cell had to big enough. must have left something somewhere in the
> sheet or somethingh. Anyway I now have the greenflag telling me their is
> an
> error. I figured I should choose it is text as a number , ignore?
> Anyway thanks so much I have alot to learn and I will
> Frank
>
> "Ragdyer" <RagDyer@cutoutmsn.com> wrote in message
> news:eSkcqQotFHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> You mentioned 18 digit numbers.
>>
>> XL can only work with 15 digits.
>> That's *true* numbers ... numbers to be used in calculations.
>>
>> If you're using your numbers as text, like in credit card numbers, with
>> no
>> calculations connected to them, you can *pre-format* the cells as "text",
>> OR, on an individual cell by cell basis, you could prefix each entry with
>> an
>> apostrophe, which will be visible in the formula bar, but will not show
>> in
>> the cells.
>> In that kind of format, you could use *any* number of digits that you'll
>> need.
>>
>> --
>> HTH,
>>
>> RD
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>> news:Oj1Ir7mtFHA.3252@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>> It says General, even a brand new worksheet, but still numbers get
>>> changed
>>> to scientif format, ????????? cell is not too short
>>> luke the pest ready to commit suicide
>>>
>>> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>>> news:%23G5OdymtFHA.904@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>> > Sorry for all this but I am so very stressed, I have work to do, just
>> some
>>> > lists with relavant data. No problem in excel 97. Anyway, obviously it
>> is
>>> > some sort of preference or sometging. I have all set to defaults. I
>> cannot
>>> > even type in a 18 digit number without this 7.40E+22
>>> > Please shoot me
>>> > Luke
>>> > "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>>> > news:%23oRZuqmtFHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>>> >> Sorry, forgot. I also tried ALL formats of the cells,rows. etc. I
>>> >> want
>>> >> this I get stuff like this 7.4019E+22, not the numbers
>>> >> thanks
>>> >> Luke
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>>> >> news:OBNfDomtFHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>> >>> Hi,
>>> >>> I am very upset, sorry
>>> >>> I am sure this is simple for most, but. I use excel more as a
>> database.
>>> >>> I do not use many formulas etc. And it serves me well.
>>> >>> Excel 2003 why can I NOT paste a number into a cell???? without
>>> >>> excel
>>> >>> messing with it. ex: 123497865 I want that pasted exactly as it
>>> >>> looks.
>> I
>>> >>> have tried all 4 paste options. It's driving me crazy.
>>> >>> I want excel to do magic whebn I choose, is this not possible?
>>> >>> Sucks really
>>> >>> Luke
>>> >>>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>

Yes, I know about the breath, needed it. JoAnn Thanks so much for your help
and I will be back, but relaxed, as I read on and learn. I am new to excel
in it's original purpose, easy to see I am sure. I have a few MS certs but
primarily desktop support and some networking. I am starting on a journey on
which I hope to obtain a good working knowledge of Excel and Access. I am
determined. We have 97 at work, ugh. I have 2003 pro at home, had 2000 for a
few years before that.
Anyway, thanks again
Frank

"JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]" <jl_paules@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:aMedne-bBrQ7o7neRVn-gQ@suscom.com...
> Without knowing what the purpose of that column is, we can't answer that.
> Take a look at your data and then decide whether it's safe to do that.
>
> Good luck - and I'm glad to see that you've finally taken a breath. ;-)
>
> --
>
> JoAnn Paules
> MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
>
>
>
> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:%23wd440otFHA.3040@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>> Joanne and Ragdyer,
>> thanks for the responses. Sorry for the excitement, was very upset. I did
>> try format as text but it didn't work. That's what set me off I think.But
>> I
>> went back after closing it and now it works. I figured text was OK and I
>> knew the cell had to big enough. must have left something somewhere in
>> the
>> sheet or somethingh. Anyway I now have the greenflag telling me their is
>> an
>> error. I figured I should choose it is text as a number , ignore?
>> Anyway thanks so much I have alot to learn and I will
>> Frank
>>
>> "Ragdyer" <RagDyer@cutoutmsn.com> wrote in message
>> news:eSkcqQotFHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>> You mentioned 18 digit numbers.
>>>
>>> XL can only work with 15 digits.
>>> That's *true* numbers ... numbers to be used in calculations.
>>>
>>> If you're using your numbers as text, like in credit card numbers, with
>>> no
>>> calculations connected to them, you can *pre-format* the cells as
>>> "text",
>>> OR, on an individual cell by cell basis, you could prefix each entry
>>> with
>>> an
>>> apostrophe, which will be visible in the formula bar, but will not show
>>> in
>>> the cells.
>>> In that kind of format, you could use *any* number of digits that you'll
>>> need.
>>>
>>> --
>>> HTH,
>>>
>>> RD
>>>
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit
>>> !
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>>> news:Oj1Ir7mtFHA.3252@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>>> It says General, even a brand new worksheet, but still numbers get
>>>> changed
>>>> to scientif format, ????????? cell is not too short
>>>> luke the pest ready to commit suicide
>>>>
>>>> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:%23G5OdymtFHA.904@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>> > Sorry for all this but I am so very stressed, I have work to do, just
>>> some
>>>> > lists with relavant data. No problem in excel 97. Anyway, obviously
>>>> > it
>>> is
>>>> > some sort of preference or sometging. I have all set to defaults. I
>>> cannot
>>>> > even type in a 18 digit number without this 7.40E+22
>>>> > Please shoot me
>>>> > Luke
>>>> > "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>>>> > news:%23oRZuqmtFHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>>>> >> Sorry, forgot. I also tried ALL formats of the cells,rows. etc. I
>>>> >> want
>>>> >> this I get stuff like this 7.4019E+22, not the numbers
>>>> >> thanks
>>>> >> Luke
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> "Frank" <stratster68@IHATESPAMworldnet.att.net> wrote in message
>>>> >> news:OBNfDomtFHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>>> >>> Hi,
>>>> >>> I am very upset, sorry
>>>> >>> I am sure this is simple for most, but. I use excel more as a
>>> database.
>>>> >>> I do not use many formulas etc. And it serves me well.
>>>> >>> Excel 2003 why can I NOT paste a number into a cell???? without
>>>> >>> excel
>>>> >>> messing with it. ex: 123497865 I want that pasted exactly as it
>>>> >>> looks.
>>> I
>>>> >>> have tried all 4 paste options. It's driving me crazy.
>>>> >>> I want excel to do magic whebn I choose, is this not possible?
>>>> >>> Sucks really
>>>> >>> Luke
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>