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How to convert a text with form 1'234'567.00 into a number in Excel

2 min read 26-10-2024
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How to convert a text with form 1'234'567.00 into a number in Excel

In Excel, data may sometimes come in various formats, which can create challenges when performing calculations. One common scenario is when numeric values are presented as text with specific formatting, such as "1'234'567.00." This format includes apostrophes that can interfere with Excel's ability to interpret the text as a number.

The Problem Scenario

Consider a case where you have a dataset in Excel, and one of the entries is formatted as follows:

1'234'567.00

This formatting can make it difficult to perform calculations or analyses on the data. The goal is to convert this text string into a number that Excel can recognize and utilize in its calculations.

Original Code

To convert text formatted with apostrophes into a usable number in Excel, you can use the following code snippet in a formula:

=VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1,"'",""),",",""))

Here, A1 refers to the cell containing the formatted text.

Explanation of the Code

  1. SUBSTITUTE Function: The SUBSTITUTE function is used to replace specific characters in a string. In our case, it is used twice:

    • First, it removes the apostrophes ('), transforming "1'234'567.00" into "1234567.00."
    • The second SUBSTITUTE is prepared to remove any commas, although this specific example does not contain any. However, if your formatting includes commas (e.g., "1,234,567.00"), the formula would still work.

  2. VALUE Function: Finally, the VALUE function converts the cleaned text string into a numerical value that Excel can work with in calculations.

Step-by-Step Guide to Converting the Text

Here is a detailed step-by-step process to perform the conversion in Excel:

  1. Open Your Excel File: Start by opening the Excel workbook containing the text-formatted data.

  2. Identify the Cell: Locate the cell that contains the formatted number (e.g., A1 with the value "1'234'567.00").

  3. Insert the Formula: Click on an empty cell where you want the converted number to appear, and enter the formula:

    =VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1,"'",""),",",""))

  4. Press Enter: Hit the Enter key, and the cell will now display the number as a usable numeric format (1234567).

  5. Copy the Formula: If you have multiple values to convert, you can drag the formula down to apply it to adjacent cells.

Practical Example

Suppose you have the following values in column A:

A1: 1'234'567.00
A2: 2'345'678.50
A3: 3'456'789.99

Applying the conversion formula in cells B1, B2, and B3 respectively, will yield:

B1: 1234567
B2: 2345678.5
B3: 3456789.99

Now, you can use these converted values for calculations such as SUM, AVERAGE, or any financial analysis.

Conclusion

Converting text with apostrophes into numeric values in Excel is a straightforward process using simple functions like VALUE and SUBSTITUTE. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily transform your data for further analysis and calculations.

Useful Resources

For further reading and advanced techniques, consider the following resources:

This information will not only enhance your understanding of Excel but will also enable you to handle various data formats with ease. Happy Excel-ing!

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