numerical cell entry problem

[Lindasman]

As my username implies, I am a wannabe tech assistant to my wife- she works from home with insurance issues while I offer a modest level of computer advice. Here;s the issue:
laying out a simple spreadsheet to record insurance claim data. claims are assigned sequential numbers all of which begin with 0 (zero) followed by 8-10 other digits. When we enter the complete number into a cell, the leading zero is always dropped when we move to another cell. I realize from a mathmatical standpoint the leading zero is meaningless unless it is part of a number that is representing a decimal (.01225) for example. But,we cannot alter the claim number; it is assigned- what is the solution here?
I would appreciate any and all suggestions

Lindasman

[Rabbit]

I'm assuming you're using Excel.

1) Select said cells.

2) Hit Ctrl+1.

3) On the Number tab, in the category list, select Text.

4) Put the leading zeroes back.

[Lindasman]

I'm assuming you're using Excel.

1) Select said cells.

2) Hit Ctrl+1.

3) On the Number tab, in the category list, select Text.

4) Put the leading zeroes back.

Thanks for the quick reply- yes it is Excel; I'll try what you suggested.

[bigturtle]

Easier: precede each entry with a double quote (") when you enter it, thus making it right-justified text in the first place. No need to add in leading zeros or whatever. Thus for 00012345 enter "00012345 (double quote only at beginning). Works in any spreadsheet program!

[Rabbit]

Easier: precede each entry with a double quote (") when you enter it, thus making it right-justified text in the first place. No need to add in leading zeros or whatever. Thus for 00012345 enter "00012345 (double quote only at beginning). Works in any spreadsheet program!

In this case he still has to go back and change the values by adding '' and the leading zeroes.

By formatting the cells, or better yet, the entire column if that's the only data going into that column, he will never have to precede it with ''.

[bigturtle]

Rabbit, your solution is fine if he wants to edit away the mistakes he made by entering the stuff as numbers.

My point is that If he enters the values preceded by a double quote when he first enters them, then he doesn't have to fiddle around and edit leading zeros later. If the entries are text from the beginning, then these problems can't arise. Why ask for mistakes by starting out wrong??

[Rabbit]

And I'm saying if he formats the field as text before he first enters them then he won't have to bother with typing '' before each entry.

[phytorion]

And I'm saying if he formats the field as text before he first enters them then he won't have to bother with typing '' before each entry.

With your method he could just format the whole column and be done with it. The only extra step would be ignoring the error generated from putting a number in a text field which again can be ignored by highlighting the whole column then ignoring the error.

[Rabbit]

Moved the thread to the appropriate forum.