KB102: Set a Cell Format as Text in Excel
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Issue:

Numeric data such as zip codes, phone numbers, social security numbers are treated as integers by Excel and therefore the leading zero is dropped. To avoid this from happening, change the cell type to Text:

 

  1. Open the Excel workbook
     
  2. Click on the column heading to select entire column
     
  3. Click Format > Cells
     
  4. Click the Number tab
     
  5. Select “Text” from the Category list
     
  6. Click OK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author/Source: Ellen Ricca

Date Reviewed: 4/10/2003