Cell contents converting to formula when saving out as CSV

[jtolly]

Question for anyone with a good knowledge of excel formatting...

I have numeric data in a column that is getting imported into an InDesign file. The number is usually something like '2100000294329'...it'll always be '2100000', followed by an extra 6 digits. This number corresponds to product images and offers, so it needs to stay exactly as it appears when input into the cell.

The issue is this: in order to merge the data in my INDD file, I need to convert the XL file into a CSV file. However, after I save the sheet to the new format, close it, and reopen it, all the numeric values in that column are being converted to a formula - something like "2.1E+12". This info gets imported as it appears so the numeric reference to the product shots is lost.

Is there a way to ensure that the numeric data in the cells stays un-formulated after input, conversion and saving?

Thanks for any guidance...

[K m]

You can convert the numerical information to text.

[Tinbendr]

Here's other options. Click here.

[jtolly]

Thanks K m & David.

I already did try a few of the things suggested before posting here...

Highlighting the numeric data cells and selecting 'text' from the 'Number' pulldown (or doing it via the 'format' right-click menu); I even copied it in and out of a txt doc, and made sure that the number cells are set to 'text'. In both cases, I either get an immediate conversion to the formula, or when I save and reopen the CSV, the values are changed to the formula.

As far as the solutions in the other thread, when I choose to custom format, i don't see an option to format to a "0.0000000000000000000000" type. Assuming it's one of the abbreviated selections (i.e. 0.00E+00), selecting any of those gives me the same '2.10E+12' equation in the Sample result area.

[K m]

to get Fomat 0.0000000000000000000000

You need to go to Format Cells/Number/Custom Format

then enter 0.0000000000000000000000 as your Custom Format