Excel 2007 : Keep a leading hyphen in .csv format???

[CastorRJ1]

I have a spreadsheet with some values containing leading hyphens. When I save this spreadsheet as a .csv file, all values with leading hyphens show the #NAME error.

For example, I have the value "-050-BLK". When I save as a .csv, excel turns that value into "#NAME". I want to keep the original value, including the leading hyphen in the cell.

I understand that the .csv format strips a sheet of it's formatting much like notepad does when copying and pasting. Is there a way to get around this so that the .csv will keep my original values and stop reading the hyphen as a different sort of dash or formula precursor?

Please advise...

[CastorRJ1]

I figured out how to manipulate Excel to place the hyphen where I need it.

I'm using the spreadsheet to import items in to an e-commerce website.

I needed to string a few different items together like the following:

OSWAT_1010
-095
-BLK

to get OSWAT_1010-095-BLK

I had to enter the information in the cells in this manner:

OSWAT_1010-
095-
BLK

[oldchippy]

Hi,

Assuming your data is in A1:A3, then

=A1&A2&A3