> On Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:54:54 -0600 > Denis Navas Vega <denis.na...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Paul, > > > > Make this test. > > > > 1. Open a new worksheet. Format some cells, say from A5:A10 as text. > > Write some numbers on those cells. > Ok > > > 2. Copy those cells to other column, say to C5:C10 and format as > > number (format @). > The '@' format is text, so I'm not sure what you want me to do, format > as text, or format as number? > > > You will see that the cells now shows an ' before the numbers. > Yes, if I format as number, this is correct. > > > 3. Write a formula in other cell, multiplying with 1, for instance, > > E5=C5*1 > Ok > > > Now check the cell and you will discover that you have a number. > True enough, when I copy these cells, and paste special, pasting only > text and numbers, not formulas or all, then I get numbers in the cells. > > > Therefore, those numbers with ', that in reallity are text, can be > > multiplied by 1, to transform it to a number. > As Brain explained to me, an implicit VALUE() must be done on the text > when multiplying by 1. > > > As a side note, I was not able to use the method of copy -- paste > > multiplying by one. > How do you mean? When is the multiply done? If I copy the numbers from > the cells with the formulas it works fine. > > So now I'm confused, if this *does* work, why was Ady complaining > about it not working? > > -- Well, the procedure I mentioned involves copying one cell only, which means it is a faster method, as oppose to having to copy perhaps a lot of cells (e.g. a "whole" column; or having to add many new "VALUE" formulas; or having to add a new column and multiply by 1 each cell and then paste special...).
I repeat the procedure that I posted before (which works correctly in other spreadsheet tools): 1_ In an auxiliary non-formatted cell, insert the number 1. 2_ Copy that auxiliary cell. 3_ Select the cells with numbers that are currently formatted as 'text' that you want to convert. 4_ Paste special (all), multiply. 5_ Delete the auxiliary cell. If the desired format is not just a 'general' number, you could optionally format the auxiliary cell before copying it. Although the "Tools -> Text to Columns..." method in Calc is nice, the procedure I am describing is more flexible. Unfortunately, it currently doesn't work in LibreOffice Calc 4.1.3.2. Regards, Ady. -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted