Formatting cells

[Goody2shoes]

When entering up an Excel spreadsheet when I enter a number beginning with a 0 it doesn't show the 0 eg 036 is 36. The only way was to format the cell with 'text' and then the 0 shows but then it doesn't like it and I get an error flag telling me I'm entering a number as text. Can anyone tell me what to format the cells with? Its Excel 2003

[wideboy]

These might help using the Custom Format for the cells:-

http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=146

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q81518&ID=KB;EN-US;Q81518

 

[bruce5755]

Sorry!  I don't want to appear to be a complete dork!  But when would you need to enter a number with a value beginning with "0".  I ask, because I find Excel an interesting program, and I like to know how it works.  TA!

[wideboy]

The links above tell you, but one example maybe telephone numbers (but they could be in as text?).

[chazza]

Try putting an apostrophe ' before the 0

[Goody2shoes]

Tried apostrophe it worked but error flag still came up. Its for a bank account number - anyway will keep trying

[Aquariel]

To enter a number with leading zeros try this:

Go into Format > Cells > Number - select 'Custom' from the list and in the 'Type' box put in '00000000' (or however many digits you want your number to have) - then whatever number you enter will always be displayed with that number of digits (8 in my example above).

[wideboy]

Goody2shoes, Aquariel has probably summarised very well what is in the two links above. Should work.

[Goody2shoes]

Found the answer! When the error flag comes up open drop down menu then select error checking options then uncheck the box formatting text as numbers