Displaying leading zeroes in Excel

[Jimtalbert]

How can I get EXCEL XP to display leading zeroes? For example, I want to enter a long number that begins with "0435" but can't get the cell to display anything other than "435". The number can be stored as text because I don't plan to use it in formulae, etc. However, when I format the cell as text I get a scientific notation display.

 

[MFDnNC]

Format Cell - Custom 0000 will give you 0435 and 00000 will give 00435

 

[Jimtalbert]

Thanks very much--never thought of that!

 

[jmosmith]

If you are using leading zeros, check your computer settings, under "my computer" / "control panel"/ "regional options": nubmers tab... select to display leading zero's.

I think there is another place to set this up also, I'll check and post back later.

You may be able to set EXCEL for leading zero's as well.

I had this problem between ACCESS and EXCEL, we did all this, and it fixed it.

the custome format also fixes it!

J

 

[jmosmith]

yeah, talked with the computer tech to refresh my memory, we changed the "date" format, for short date to mm/dd/yyyy, so that we would have leading zeros

geting:

01/01/2004

and not:

1/1/2004

you may need to do this as well if you are manipulating dates. otherwise I guess you're fine?

J

 

[Jimtalbert]

Thanks for the additional suggestions. Couldn't find anything in the Control Panel setting other than leading zeros before a decimal point. I'm okay with the custom number format but it just seems there should be a simple generic option somewhere to permit leading zeros under all circumstances.