Replacing Text May Change Text to Numbers or Dates (178606)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
- Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0
- Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q178606 SYMPTOMS
In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this
article, if you replace characters in a worksheet by clicking Replace on
the Edit menu, the formatting of some cells in the worksheet may
unexpectedly be changed, for example:
|
| 2:30:00 (as text) | 2:30:00 (as a time) | | 3/8 (as text) | 8-Mar or 3-Aug (as a date) | | 9e5 (as text) | 9.00E+05 (scientific notation) |
CAUSE
This problem may occur when text is being replaced in a cell and the
contents of the cell resemble a number, date, or time. If the contents of
a cell resemble a number, date, or time, Microsoft Excel automatically
applies an appropriate number format to the cell, even if the cell was
previously formatted to display text.
WORKAROUND
Microsoft Excel does not automatically reformat cells if the Transition
Formula Entry (TFE) option is turned on. To turn on this option, follow
these steps:
- On the Tools menu, click Options. Select the Transition tab.
- Click to select the Transition Formula Entry check box. Click OK.
- On the Edit menu, click Replace. Use the Replace dialog box to replace
text as needed in the worksheet. Click Close when you are finished.
- On the Tools menu, click Options. Select the Transition tab.
- Click to clear the Transition Formula Entry check box. Click OK.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products
listed at the beginning of this article.
STATUSMicrosoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
| Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 8/17/2005 |
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| Keywords: | kbprb KB178606 |
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