convert text to numbers

[drs]

I have negative numbers in my worksheet that are text such as –6.90%. I try
converting them to number using the paste special multiple or add and they
stay as text. When I sort the columns in descending order they continue to
come out as text and right justified. could it be the the negative sign is
not a real negative sign.
–6.90%
–5.61%
–5.37%
–35.80%

[Arvi Laanemets]

Hi

Copy one minus-sign
Select the range with values. Check, that range is formatted as numeric or
general.
Replace all minus-signs with "-". It's done! (you had there 'long -', which
you get when you enter double '-' p.e. in MS Word.)


--
Arvi Laanemets
( My real mail address: arvil<at>tarkon.ee )


"drs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have negative numbers in my worksheet that are text such as –6.90%. I try
> converting them to number using the paste special multiple or add and they
> stay as text. When I sort the columns in descending order they continue to
> come out as text and right justified. could it be the the negative sign is
> not a real negative sign.
> –6.90%
> –5.61%
> –5.37%
> –35.80%
>

[drs]

I think I'm doing this wrong. I selected my range of cells and made all cells
'percentage'.
I tried a replace "--" to"-" and it didn't find anything.

"Arvi Laanemets" wrote:

> Hi
>
> Copy one minus-sign
> Select the range with values. Check, that range is formatted as numeric or
> general.
> Replace all minus-signs with "-". It's done! (you had there 'long -', which
> you get when you enter double '-' p.e. in MS Word.)
>
>
> --
> Arvi Laanemets
> ( My real mail address: arvil<at>tarkon.ee )
>
>
> "drs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >I have negative numbers in my worksheet that are text such as –6.90%. I try
> > converting them to number using the paste special multiple or add and they
> > stay as text. When I sort the columns in descending order they continue to
> > come out as text and right justified. could it be the the negative sign is
> > not a real negative sign.
> > –6.90%
> > –5.61%
> > –5.37%
> > –35.80%
> >
>
>
>

[Arvi Laanemets]

No!

You must copy 'double-minus' from one of cells.
– (that is what you have there, it's ASCII code = 150) doesn't equal --

--
Arvi Laanemets
( My real mail address: arvil<at>tarkon.ee )




"drs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I think I'm doing this wrong. I selected my range of cells and made all
>cells
> 'percentage'.
> I tried a replace "--" to"-" and it didn't find anything.
>
> "Arvi Laanemets" wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>
>> Copy one minus-sign
>> Select the range with values. Check, that range is formatted as numeric
>> or
>> general.
>> Replace all minus-signs with "-". It's done! (you had there 'long -',
>> which
>> you get when you enter double '-' p.e. in MS Word.)
>>
>>
>> --
>> Arvi Laanemets
>> ( My real mail address: arvil<at>tarkon.ee )
>>
>>
>> "drs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> >I have negative numbers in my worksheet that are text such as –6.90%. I
>> >try
>> > converting them to number using the paste special multiple or add and
>> > they
>> > stay as text. When I sort the columns in descending order they continue
>> > to
>> > come out as text and right justified. could it be the the negative sign
>> > is
>> > not a real negative sign.
>> > –6.90%
>> > –5.61%
>> > –5.37%
>> > –35.80%
>> >
>>
>>
>>