Can't figure out =VALUE("")

[Dave_Sco]

Hey guys and gals,

I have an Excel document for working through many financial numbers, and the matter what I do, I can't convert a text string like "60.00" to a number using the fx '=VALUE(cell number)'. I always get back a '#VALUE!' Error.

I've checked for spaces and checked for symbols using 'Find and Replace'. And I've done what I can to get it to be a number, but I always get a value error. I've also checked that the text is, in fact, a string by =ISTEXT(), and it says TRUE, so I'm a little confused.

I've attached the text strings I'm trying to convert to numbers; this is only a small sample of the hundreds I have to do.

Any help you can give a noobie Excel user? I really appreciate any help you can provide.

[MarvinP]

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum,

If you use the "Paste Special" feature and add zero to all those numbers, they convert to numbers in an instant. Here is how you do that...
1. Put Zero in a blank cell and copy it using Ctrl-C
2. Select all those number/text and click on paste special and Add.
Poof - all converted to numbers.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...%26FORM%3DVDRE

[FlameRetired]

I am not able to see the problem you describe. I downloaded your file and everything works properly (no errors).

[joeu2004]

@Dave_Sco.... When I open your file, initially I see #VALUE errors in column B. But if I select B2, for example, and press f2, then Enter -- that is, re-enter the =VALUE(A2) formula -- the formula returns 60, as expected. (A2 is the text 60.00.)

That leads me to conclude that the problem might be regional differences in entering numeric data. In particular, the use of period or comma for the decimal point.

I suspect your system is set for the latter (comma).

Use Find and Replace (ctrl+h) to change the periods to commas. That will change the text to numbers in column A, and the values will be displayed according to the numeric format.

PS.... If you expect this to be a recurring problem, and you want a formula to do the conversion, use =--SUBSTITUTE(A2, ".", ",") in column B. The double negate ("--") converts text to a numeric value.

[Dave_Sco]

Thanks for checking.

I figured out it was my system that was messing up all of the values. I think my MacBook Pro isn't functioning correctly with Office right now. I loaded it on my PC, and hey presto, everything and more worked better.

[Pepe Le Mokko]

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Thanks.

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