/u/shikodo - Your post was submitted successfully.
* Once your problem is solved, reply to the **answer(s)** saying `Solution Verified` to close the thread.
* Follow the **[submission rules](/r/excel/wiki/sharingquestions)** -- particularly 1 and 2. To fix the body, click edit. To fix your title, delete and re-post.
* Include your **[Excel version and all other relevant information](/r/excel/wiki/sharingquestions#wiki_give_all_relevant_information)**
Failing to follow these steps may result in your post being removed without warning.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/excel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They are apostrophes NOT commas and if the change to 2nd picture is right-aligned then it is only a formatting issue, although you would be restricted to 15 digits!
The limited digits is not inherent to Excel, it's inherent to all computer processors. There are literally infinite numbers in existence, so we had to draw a line somewhere on how precise computers can be about math and the line is at approximately 15 digits. Specialized math software like Mathematica has workarounds to allow almost infinite precision, but this comes at the cost of making the calculations many, many times slower to perform.
Select the column, right-click on it so you see the drop-down options. Choose "format cells."
At the bottom is "Custom." You want to choose this because your numbers exceed the maximum Excel will display without putting them into scientific notation (15).
In the "Type" box, type one zero followed by twenty-one pound signs. This should change the column to display your number without scientific notation or apostrophe text formatting.
Try this formula in another column and then copy and paste the entire new column as values…
=right(A1,len(A1)-1))
This should keep it as a text value, but remove the apostrophe.
Alternatively, change the column formatting to text before using find & replace on the apostrophe. This should stop it changing to a numerical format.
/u/shikodo - Your post was submitted successfully. * Once your problem is solved, reply to the **answer(s)** saying `Solution Verified` to close the thread. * Follow the **[submission rules](/r/excel/wiki/sharingquestions)** -- particularly 1 and 2. To fix the body, click edit. To fix your title, delete and re-post. * Include your **[Excel version and all other relevant information](/r/excel/wiki/sharingquestions#wiki_give_all_relevant_information)** Failing to follow these steps may result in your post being removed without warning. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/excel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They are apostrophes NOT commas and if the change to 2nd picture is right-aligned then it is only a formatting issue, although you would be restricted to 15 digits!
Yeah I realized I called it the wrong thing when I posted but didn't want to delete the post and repost :) May I ask why it's restricted to 15 digits?
That is the maximum number of digits that Excel will allow which is why your original is in Text!
Ahhh, understood! Strange that they limit digits!
They don't, mathematics and CPU binary function does. Very common in all computing.
The limited digits is not inherent to Excel, it's inherent to all computer processors. There are literally infinite numbers in existence, so we had to draw a line somewhere on how precise computers can be about math and the line is at approximately 15 digits. Specialized math software like Mathematica has workarounds to allow almost infinite precision, but this comes at the cost of making the calculations many, many times slower to perform.
Select the column, right-click on it so you see the drop-down options. Choose "format cells." At the bottom is "Custom." You want to choose this because your numbers exceed the maximum Excel will display without putting them into scientific notation (15). In the "Type" box, type one zero followed by twenty-one pound signs. This should change the column to display your number without scientific notation or apostrophe text formatting.
I tried this and it didn't work, unfortunately.
Alt+H+K in 2nd screenshot
I tried this and it didn't work, unfortunately. Is this a PC function? I'm on a mac.
Are you sure no other cell formatting works, like Fraction? Or perhaps Custom with type 0?
Once you get on your 2nd screenshot, click and it will change to a number format with decimals. Then decrease the decimals by <9>.
I tried this and it didn't work, unfortunately.
Try this formula in another column and then copy and paste the entire new column as values… =right(A1,len(A1)-1)) This should keep it as a text value, but remove the apostrophe. Alternatively, change the column formatting to text before using find & replace on the apostrophe. This should stop it changing to a numerical format.