Excel converts text to formulas %@#$

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Henryk Birecki - 16 Jan 2007 16:26 GMT

I wish Microsoft stopped developing "helpful" programs. All their
"auto" stuff leads to nothing but problems. Here is an example:

I have to process data which come as CSV files and contain entries
that look like multiplication e.g "3*4". Damn Excel can't handle
these. Every chance it gets, it turns them into "=3*4" and displays
"12".

Any one knows how to kill this behaviour? Please share the knowledge.

Henryk Birecki

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Harlan Grove - 16 Jan 2007 16:58 GMT

Henryk Birecki wrote...

>I wish Microsoft stopped developing "helpful" programs. All their
>"auto" stuff leads to nothing but problems. Here is an example:

You're assuming that wasn't their intent.

>I have to process data which come as CSV files and contain entries
>that look like multiplication e.g "3*4". Damn Excel can't handle
>these. Every chance it gets, it turns them into "=3*4" and displays
>"12".
>
>Any one knows how to kill this behaviour? Please share the knowledge.

The knowledge has been shared thousands of times. Learn how to use the
Google Groups archive. You're not the first person to ask about this.

But WTH, this is akin to Excel treating entries like 1/2 as dates. I've
never seen Excel mishandle any field containing asterisks but *WITHOUT*
a leading equal sign. You need to rename .CSV files as .TXT files, then
when you open them Excel will launch its Text Import Wizard. [Excel
*SHOULD* include an option to always launch the the Text Import Wizard
when opening CSV files.] The Text Import Wizard allows you to specify
certain fields as Text, which aren't interpreted as formulas.

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Gord Dibben - 16 Jan 2007 17:31 GMT

Henryk

My guess is you have Tools>Options>Transition options checked.

Uncheck these, especially "Transition Formula Entry"

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

>I wish Microsoft stopped developing "helpful" programs. All their
>"auto" stuff leads to nothing but problems. Here is an example:
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Henryk Birecki

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Henryk Birecki - 17 Jan 2007 01:42 GMT

Thanks,

No, these options are unchecked together with anything else that I
could to turn off "automatic" things

Henryk

>Henryk
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>>
>>Henryk Birecki

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