How to Make Text Appear as Typed in Excel

When you type information into an Excel cell, the program will automatically convert the information based on the cell's current format. For example, if you try to enter "100" into a cell with the "Accounting" format, it will display as "$ 100.00". Even if you haven't changed the cell's format, entering certain types of information, like dates, will cause Excel to automatically convert the cell's format. If you want Excel to display just what you have typed into the cell, you'll have to force the cell into the "Text" format.

Instructions

1. Open the Excel 2010 worksheet in which you want to enter your information.

2. Click on the top-left cell in the area where you want to alter the cell's format. Hold shift and then click the bottom-right cell in the area. If desired, you can also click the letters above the columns or the numbers to the left of the rows to select an entire column or row, respectively. Finally, to alter the format for the entire worksheet, click the button that sits to the left of the "A" and above the "1" in the upper left corner of the sheet.

3. Click the "Home" tab at the top of the screen. Locate the "Number" area of the ribbon and click on the drop-down box found there.

4. Choose "Text," which will be at the bottom of the list that appears. Once you click on this option, your selected cells will display exactly what was typed into them.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you choose "Text" most of the cells you have entered text into will automatically convert to display what you typed. The exception are cells that Excel has converted into times or dates. Since Excel handles these types of cells as numbers, you will see a number appear in the cell instead of what you originally typed in.

References

• Microsoft Office: Basic Tasks in Excel 2010
• Microsoft Office: Available Number Formats