Make excel stop messing with time inputs

[beric7]

So I am a runner, and I want excel to basically leave my time entries alone. For example, I am entering forty minutes fifteen seconds into excel as 40:15. It manipulates the numbers into dates and what not. Is there a simple formatting fix that can be applied to the cells?

Thanks!

[quekbc]

If you're not looking to do any arithmetic on the numbers, you can tell Excel to treat it as a TEXT by inserting an apostrophe before 40:15.

Please Login or Register  to view this content.

Otherwise, you can use the TIME function

Please Login or Register  to view this content.

then change the formatting by right clicking on that cell, Format Cells, Number tab, Time and select one of the options.

[beric7]

I figured it out!

[Sam147]

I am in a similar situation. Excel treats 10:15 (mm:ss) duration entered as 10:15 AM. I want to conver this to seconds. Please advise on what to do?
TIA

[Jacc]

You post a new thread. Bureaucratic you may say but it's just to keep the forum tidy in the long run.

[newdoverman]

@Sam147

Unfortunately your post does not comply with Rule 2 of our Forum RULES. Do not post a question in the thread of another member -- start your own thread.

If you feel an existing thread is particularly relevant to your need, provide a link to the other thread in your new thread.

Old threads are often only monitored by the original participants. New threads not only open you up to all possible participants again, they typically get faster response, too.