Converting inputted negatives to positive #'s

I have downloaded a spreadsheet and need to convert a column of negative numbers to positives.

From the format cells tab, I could not locate a feature that would allow me to convert to an absolute value.

Please provide any hints or advice. Thanks,

Try this:

In a blank cell, enter the number -1
Copy this cell
Highlight the range that needs to be adjusted
Right click, and choose paste special
Click multiply and OK

Let me know if that works.

Originally Posted by harrywaldron

Another approach I often use (in case you don't want to add another column to the spreadsheet and in case you might have a few positive values as well):

1. Highlight the range and select COPY
2. OPEN notepad and paste
3. In Notepad, select the EDIT and then the REPLACE feature
4. Enter a dash (minus sign) in "Find what" area and don't key anything in the "Replace with" area (which represents "nulls")
5. Select the REPLACE ALL button
6. Highlight or "EDIT / Select ALL" on your now positive number rows
7. Paste them back into your Excel document.

You can also use that approach and eliminate steps 2-6. You can just highlight the column in excel, go to find, enter a - sign, and replace with nothing. I think it works just the same.