How do I stop Excel from converting a numerical entry to a date?

[havanakids]

I'm creating a spreadsheet in which one column contains SKU (stock keeping
unit) numbers. Excel sometimes sees these values as dates and automatically
converts them in my spreadsheet. For example, Excel sees 10-1999 as Oct-99.

[Rowan Drummond]

Enter it as '10-1999. The apostrophe will convert your entry to text but
will not show in the cell. You will be able to see it in the formula bar.

Alternately format the cell as text before entering the SKU.

Hope this helps
Rowan

havanakids wrote:
> I'm creating a spreadsheet in which one column contains SKU (stock keeping
> unit) numbers. Excel sometimes sees these values as dates and automatically
> converts them in my spreadsheet. For example, Excel sees 10-1999 as Oct-99.

[havanakids]

Your answer was right on target! Preceeding the numerical value with an
apostrophe forced Excel to leave the value alone. Many thanks for your help.
I was ready to quit!

"Rowan Drummond" wrote:

> Enter it as '10-1999. The apostrophe will convert your entry to text but
> will not show in the cell. You will be able to see it in the formula bar.
>
> Alternately format the cell as text before entering the SKU.
>
> Hope this helps
> Rowan
>
> havanakids wrote:
> > I'm creating a spreadsheet in which one column contains SKU (stock keeping
> > unit) numbers. Excel sometimes sees these values as dates and automatically
> > converts them in my spreadsheet. For example, Excel sees 10-1999 as Oct-99.
>

[Rowan Drummond]

You're welcome.

havanakids wrote:
> Your answer was right on target! Preceeding the numerical value with an
> apostrophe forced Excel to leave the value alone. Many thanks for your help.
> I was ready to quit!
>

[mcs51mc]

If your stock numbers always have the same format xx-xxxx like your example, then creating a ##-#### format is a better way to solve your problem. Set that format to the whole column. That way when the user enters 102005, Excel will format it in 10-2005. Saves you two key strokes (' and -) for each entry

Alain