How to Change from Text to Number in Excel
Excel is a powerful tool for managing and analyzing data, but sometimes you may encounter a problem where numbers are stored as text. This can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to perform calculations or sort your data. In this article, we’ll discuss various methods on how to change from text to number in Excel.
Method 1: Using the Number Format Function
One of the simplest ways to convert text to numbers in Excel is by using the Number Format function. Here’s how to do it:
1. Select the cell or range of cells containing the text numbers.
2. Right-click on the selected cell and choose “Format Cells” from the context menu.
3. In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the “Number” tab.
4. Select the desired number format from the list. If you’re not sure which format to choose, you can leave it as “General” and Excel will automatically format the numbers for you.
5. Click “OK” to apply the changes.
Method 2: Using the Value Function
Another way to convert text to numbers in Excel is by using the Value function. This method is particularly useful when you want to convert a single cell containing text numbers. Here’s how to do it:
1. Select the cell containing the text number.
2. Press “F2” to enter edit mode.
3. Type an equal sign (=) followed by the Value function (e.g., =VALUE(A1)).
4. Press “Enter” to convert the text to a number.
Method 3: Using the TEXT function
The TEXT function can also be used to convert text to numbers in Excel. This method is useful when you want to format the numbers with a specific number of decimal places. Here’s how to do it:
1. Select the cell where you want to display the converted number.
2. Enter the following formula: =TEXT(A1, “0.00”).
3. Replace “0.00” with the desired number of decimal places.
4. Press “Enter” to convert the text to a number with the specified format.
Method 4: Using the Power Query Editor
The Power Query Editor is a powerful tool that allows you to transform and combine data from various sources. To convert text to numbers using the Power Query Editor, follow these steps:
1. Open the Power Query Editor by clicking on the “Data” tab and selecting “Get & Transform Data” > “From Table/Range”.
2. In the Power Query Editor, select the column containing the text numbers.
3. Click on the “Transform” tab and choose “Convert to Number”.
4. Apply the conversion and close the Power Query Editor.
Conclusion
Converting text to numbers in Excel can be done using various methods, such as the Number Format function, Value function, TEXT function, and Power Query Editor. Choose the method that best suits your needs and get your data in the desired format for further analysis and calculations.
