How to add zeros to the beginning of a number

**gronnies** · 12-10-2009, 04:04 PM

Hello,

Can someone please help with adding zeros to the front of a number? Each cell needs to be 12 digits. Any cell with less than 12 digits need zeros in front. Examples below:

CURRENTLY: 4122235443 (10-digits)
NEEDS TO BE: 004122235443 (12-digits)

CURRENTLY: 57655599900 (11-digits)
NEEDS TO BE: 057677799900 (12-digits)

CURRENTLY: 108877443322 (12-digits)
NEEDS TO BE: no changes needed

Thanks in advance!

**excelmaster5000** · 12-10-2009, 04:13 PM

Select the cells that you want to format. Then right click, select format cell. On the number tab, choose custom for the category, then in the box that says "type" put 0's for the number of digits that you want your number to be.

i.e. 000000 for a six digit number

**gronnies** · 12-10-2009, 04:22 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. It did, in fact, work however when I click on the cell with the zero in front, the formula bar shows it without the zero (although the cell shows the zero). Is there a way I can get it so it shows the zero on the formula bar as well? I tried the copy and paste special (values) but that didn't work.

Thanks again!

**Palmetto** · 12-10-2009, 04:56 PM

[QUOTE]It did, in fact, work however when I click on the cell with the zero in front, the formula bar shows it without the zero (although the cell shows the zero). Is there a way I can get it so it shows the zero on the formula bar as well? I tried the copy and paste special (values) but that didn't work.[/
QUOTE]
The leading zeros are, obviously, place holders and have no numerical significance. The formula bar only shows the actual underlying value of a cell regardless of formatting.

It's not clear why you would need or even want the leading zeros to show in the formula bar, but to do so requires formatting the applicable cells to text (not recommended, though - numbers should remain numbers).