Formatting fraction "1 3/4" as "7/4"

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum and I just signed up because I couldn't find a way to solve this issue:
I am making a list of roughly 15000 articles with dimensions and all, however, some dimensions are Imperial. these dimensions are written as EG: 1 1/4, 1 1/2 etc.
everything works as planned but the problem is that in my product managemnt system one field is prescribed to contain these fractions in the following form: 5/4, 3/2 etc.

Is there any way to automate this field by using either functions or formatting options?
in PHP I already made an example of what the script should do:

$fraction = "1 3/4";
$whole = explode(" ", $fraction);
$tn = explode("/", $whole[1]);
$w = $whole[0];
$t = $tn[0];
$n = $tn[1];
$new = (($w * $n)+ $t)."/".$n;
echo "Old: ".$fraction."<br />";
echo "New: ".$new;

in layman's terms:

2 1/4 ---> A= 2, B= 1, C= 4
Newfraction = ((A * C)+ B)/C = 9/4

I could use the LEFT() and COUNT() functions intertwined with each other (to seperate the numbers) but this would make an highly unstable and large formula.. It sjhould be easier in my opinion...

I hope you can help me!
Thanks

FIXED!
if N55 = 1 1/4
output = 5/4

if N55 = 3/4
output = 3/4

if N55 = 580/900
output = #value!
there are some errors in it (because of the length and find vars, but it works for now)

=IF(LEN(N55)>=5;(MID(N55;1;FIND(" ";N55))*MID(N55;LEN(N55);1))+MID(N55;FIND("/";N55)-1;1)&"/"&MID(N55;LEN(N55);1);N55)

Yes I agree, but I cannot guarantee that there will opnly be those two values, these are the two stated in my little part in my excel file, but they are dimensions, thus I should be aware that more options are possible.
and also, the fields are formatted as fractions up to two digits

Is it text or a value?

If it's a value, then obviously 1 3/4 is 1.75. Just change the number formatting to a custom format of ##/## and it'll display correctly.

It is formatted as a value (fraction)
even when I reformat it as what you stated (which doesnt work, just tried it) the field in which the value resides should harbor that formatting as well, this would make something as ######DP-##/##-R-GD
.. but I got it to work now

see post number 2, however, a more elegant solution is always great to have! :D

Dunno why it doesn't work on yours - works on mine! hash hash slash hash hash. Sounds good anyway....
If you want to add text, also try ="DP-"&TEXT(A1,"##/##")&"-R-GD"

Originally Posted by outofthehat

Dunno why it doesn't work on yours - works on mine! hash hash slash hash hash. Sounds good anyway....
If you want to add text, also try ="DP-"&TEXT(A1,"##/##")&"-R-GD"

lol oh ****! :o
that does work, Now I'm feeling like an idiot, and I want to bitchslap Microsoft for demolishing the format cell function. that is indeed a text field, but who cares, it works. thanks!

Glad to help. If you're happy, please mark your thread as solved. Ta.

Wow Darren,
that's it exactly!
Now I will only have to add an if statement to determine if the value even is a fraction.

I was sceptical this morning but I guess excel isn't as bad as I thought this morning!