Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Converting Text to Numbers.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 18, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
If you are using Excel to grab information from an external source, it is possible that you could end up with some pretty strange information in your cells. For instance, let's say that you have cells that contain numbers such as 1,234.5-. These are formatted as text cells in Excel, and therefore cannot be used in calculations.
The following macro will check the cells in a selected range. If the cells contain text, and that text ends in a minus sign, the macro will move the minus sign to the beginning of the text and stuff it back into the cell. The result is that the cell is converted from a text value to the proper numeric value.
Sub ConvToNum() Dim MyText As Variant Dim MyRange As Range Dim CellCount As Integer Set MyRange = ActiveSheet.Range(ActiveWindow.Selection.Address) For CellCount = 1 To MyRange.Cells.Count MyText = MyRange.Cells(CellCount).Value If VarType(MyText) = vbString Then MyText = Trim(MyText) If Right(MyText, 1) = "-" Then MyText = "-" & Left(MyText, Len(MyText) - 1) MyRange.Cells(CellCount).Value = MyText End If End If Next CellCount End Sub
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2300) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Converting Text to Numbers.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
When your macro is processing information in a worksheet, do you need to periodically make the contents of a cell bold? ...
Discover MoreYou can hide a bunch of worksheets at the same time, but Excel makes it impossible to unhide a bunch at once. You can, ...
Discover MoreWrite out a check and you need to include the digits for the amount of the check and the value of the check written out ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments