Please help with my Excel frustation

nuLime · #1 04-20-2004, 02:55 PM

I have a column of UPC codes that often start with zeros. I imported the codes from a tab delimited file in Excel 2003. I have tried every formatting style in an attempt to prevent Excel from removing those preceeding zeroes and from changing certain other UPC codes into "1234+10" style notation.

If I format the column as Number with no decimals, the "5678+11" notation goes away, but the preceeding zero is still missing. If I change the column to Text, then the "5678+11" notation comes back and the preceeding zero is STILL missing.

I am pulling out my hair trying to figure out why MS Excel wants to force me to remove that zero!

Can anyone please help me with this?

LooseChippings · #2 04-20-2004, 03:05 PM

What are UPC codes?

nuLime · #3 04-20-2004, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LooseChippings
What are UPC codes?

The UPC is a number you usually see at the bottom of a barcode on various retail products.

LooseChippings · #4 04-20-2004, 03:20 PM

When you imported the CSV file did you import as text or data?

nuLime · #5 04-20-2004, 03:35 PM

I went to menu "File >> Open" then I went through the CSV import steps. There was no option for data or text. Only the point where I was to select between General and Text, of which I selected Text.

LooseChippings · #6 04-20-2004, 03:49 PM

Try this ...

It seems to work using Excel 2002 ...

Open a blank workbook.

Click Cell A1 > Data > Import External Data > Import Data > Browse to the file to import > Open > Ensure Delimited is checked and MS-DOS (PC-8) is selected > Next > Ensure Tab is checked > Next > Check Text in the Column Data Format area > Finish > OK

nuLime · #7 04-20-2004, 04:09 PM

I tried that, but Excel is still chopping off those preceeding zeros...

LooseChippings · #8 04-21-2004, 01:15 AM

Weird

Can you email me a sample of a csv that you are trying to import.

nuLime · #9 04-21-2004, 08:40 AM

I was creating a sample tab delimited file for you, and then I accidently figured out the problem.

As it turns out, I wasn't selecting the correct column to be Text instead of General.

Because my file contained an enormous description before getting to the UPC code column, I always thought that the Text import option covered the entire document. All I need to do is to scroll to the right and select the columns I need to be purely Text during the import and that fixes the problem.

Thanks for your help!