assigning a unit ?

[boarders paradise]

Hi. I'm sorry, this is probably the most basic question ever asked here, but for some strange reasons I don't find anything in the help file or on the web...

I just want to assign a unit (e.g. centimeter) to a value in a cell, let's say:
7 cm

I found plenty of explanations concerning the conversions of units, but none that explains how to assing a unit in the first place...
Logically, I would have expected that the user can assign units the same way as he can choose the cell format (currencies: dollars, euros, ...; time and date; percent; etc.), but when I right-click on a cell and choose "cell format..." (or whatever that translates to in the English version of Excel) there is no option for units (other than currencies) ...

Any help would be most welcome.
And sorry for being such a newbie ...

[martindwilson]

custom format as
0.0" cm" or 0.0"cm"

[shg]

There are good reasons not to add the format to the cell, and instead put it the next column over.

For example, if you want to change the units from cm to mm or km, the formula that calculates the result could be modified to look at the units and scale it automatically, using CONVERT or another method.

[boarders paradise]

custom format as
0.0" cm" or 0.0"cm"

awesome!! that did the trick!
I wonder why I couldn't find that anywhere ...

works perfectly.
[solved]

[zbor]

Please, go to first post -> Edit -> Go advanced and choose solved from drop down menu

[boarders paradise]

PS: It would be convenient if Excel were to be aware of the most common units. So that if you enter 7 kg or 7 lbs Excel would automatically identify that as numbers+units and not plain text.

There could be this tiny little box appearing automatically and giving the user a quick drop-down-list to decide if it's numbers+units or just text, if the user isn't happy with the automatic recognition ... (I'm talking about the same box that appears when pasting) .... alternatively there could be an option in the preferences ("don't automatically recognize units" or something similar ....)

[boarders paradise]

Please, go to first post -> Edit -> Go advanced and choose solved from drop down menu

Yes, I always do this ... give me a second My posting [1:03 pm] was just 2 minutes old when you posted [1:05 pm] ...

[boarders paradise]

There are good reasons not to add the format to the cell, and instead put it the next column over.

For example, if you want to change the units from cm to mm or km, the formula that calculates the result could be modified to look at the units and scale it automatically, using CONVERT or another method.

Well, I thought it would be the exact opposite (for the exact same reasons you mentioned .... !). I guess, I will have to get a good book on Excel, because the help file isn't too good, in my opinion ...

Thanks for that tip!

[zbor]

Yes, I always do this ... give me a second My posting [1:03 pm] was just 2 minutes old when you posted [1:05 pm] ...

I'm quick... my wife told me that too

[boarders paradise]

Don't give us the details ... LOL :D

[shg]

I thought it would be the exact opposite

A cell formula can readily evaluate the contents of a another cell; it cannot evaluate a cell's format, other than within the limitations of the CELL("format") function and Excel4 macros.

[boarders paradise]

A cell formula can readily evaluate the contents of a another cell; it cannot evaluate a cell's format, other than within the limitations of the CELL("format") function and Excel4 macros.

OK, I have to pass on that ... I have not enough knowledge to comment on that unfortunately.

The help docs of nearly all my programs are quite decent, but not the one for Excel in my opinion. Could you suggest any reading material for me, to learn the program thouroughly ... ?

[shg]

I think Walkenbach's books are good. You can find them on Amazon.

[boarders paradise]

thank U ! I'll consider that (but I'll look around the net first, maybe I find a free online resource ... in these hard times we have to watch every penny ...)

[martindwilson]

in these hard times we have to watch every penny

what hard times are they?
i'm loaded...........