How to Change Text to Number in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s get to it! Changing text to numbers in Excel may sound like a complex task, but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it. If you’ve got data that’s been inputted as text but you need it to be recognized as numbers (maybe for some quick calculations or to clean up your data), then you’re in the right place. With a few clicks and a little know-how, you’ll be converting text to numbers in no time!

Step by Step Tutorial: Change Text to Number in Excel

Before diving into the steps, let’s understand what we’re aiming to achieve. Converting text to numbers in Excel is essential when you have numbers that Excel doesn’t recognize because they’ve been formatted or entered as text. This can cause issues with calculations or sorting. By following these steps, you’ll transform those stubborn text entries into usable numeric data.

Step 1: Select Your Data

Click and drag to highlight the cells you want to convert from text to numbers.

Once you’ve selected the cells, Excel might display a small warning triangle. This is Excel’s way of telling you it’s noticed something off about the data – in this case, that numbers are formatted as text.

Step 2: Open the Data Tools Menu

Click on the ‘Data’ tab at the top of Excel and find the ‘Data Tools’ section.

Inside the ‘Data Tools’ section, there’s a neat little feature called ‘Text to Columns’ which, despite its name, can be used to change text to numbers.

Step 3: Use the ‘Text to Columns’ Wizard

Click on ‘Text to Columns’, and a wizard will pop up to guide you through the conversion process.

Even though ‘Text to Columns’ is traditionally used for splitting a single text column into multiple columns, it can also force Excel to re-evaluate the format of the data, which is what we’re after.

Step 4: Choose ‘Delimited’ or ‘Fixed Width’

In the first step of the wizard, choose ‘Delimited’ if your data has a specific character (like a comma or tab) that separates it, or ‘Fixed Width’ if the data is aligned in columns with spaces.

Most of the time, you’ll want to choose ‘Delimited’, but if your data isn’t separated by any specific characters, ‘Fixed Width’ is the option for you.

Step 5: Set Delimiters (If Applicable)

Set your delimiters and click ‘Next’, or just click ‘Next’ if you’re going with ‘Fixed Width’.

This step is where you tell Excel how to break up the text. If you’ve chosen ‘Delimited’, you can select options like tabs, semicolons, commas, or spaces.

Step 6: Choose the ‘General’ Column Data Format

In the final step of the wizard, set the column data format to ‘General’ and click ‘Finish’.

The ‘General’ format tells Excel to guess the data type, and since we want numbers, it’ll convert anything that looks like a number into actual numeric data.

After you complete these steps, voilà! Your text will magically transform into numbers, and you can use them for all the mathematical operations Excel has to offer. It’s like telling Excel, "Hey, trust me, these are numbers," and Excel goes, "Oh, right, my bad!" and corrects itself.

Tips: Change Text to Number in Excel

• Always backup your Excel file before performing any major changes, just in case things don’t go as planned.
• If Excel doesn’t automatically prompt you with the warning triangle, you can still use the ‘Text to Columns’ wizard manually.
• In some cases, simply changing the cell format to ‘Number’ can convert the text to numbers, especially if the data doesn’t require any complex conversion.
• Try using the ‘Value’ function for a quick fix by typing "=VALUE(cell_reference)" and replacing "cell_reference" with the cell containing the text.
• Keep in mind that any leading zeroes will be removed when you convert text to numbers since Excel sees these as unnecessary for numerical values.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my numbers are still not recognized as numbers after the conversion?

Sometimes Excel needs a little extra nudge. Try double-clicking the cell, or editing it in some way, then press ‘Enter’. This can force Excel to re-evaluate the cell’s content.

Can I convert multiple columns at once?

Absolutely! Just select multiple columns when you’re performing the ‘Text to Columns’ wizard. But, make sure the data in each column is formatted consistently.

What should I do if my data has leading zeroes that I need to keep?

In this case, you might want to keep the data as text. Alternatively, you can use a custom format that includes the zeroes, or store the number as text by adding an apostrophe before the number.

Why would I want to change text to numbers in Excel?

Sometimes data imported from other sources, or data that’s been inputted with an apostrophe before it, is formatted as text. This can prevent you from performing calculations or sorting the data correctly.

Is there a way to change numbers to text in Excel?

Yes, you can format the cell to ‘Text’, or precede the number with an apostrophe to keep it as text.

Summary

1. Select the cells you want to convert.
2. Open the ‘Data’ tab and click on ‘Text to Columns’ in the ‘Data Tools’ section.
3. Choose ‘Delimited’ or ‘Fixed Width’ in the wizard.
4. Set delimiters if necessary and click ‘Next’.
5. Choose the ‘General’ column data format and click ‘Finish’.

Conclusion

And there you have it—a simple, step-by-step guide on how to change text to number in Excel. Whether you’re a data analyst crunching numbers or a small business owner keeping your books in check, knowing how to maneuver your way through Excel’s plethora of features is essential. Remember, it’s not just about making the numbers work; it’s about making them tell the story of your data in the clearest way possible. With the tips and tricks you’ve learned today, you’re well on your way to mastering Excel and making your data work for you. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to dive into Excel’s more advanced features once you’ve got this one down pat. Enjoy the number-crunching!