Microsoft KB Archive/117603

= WorksWizard Quick Database: Numbers Formatted as Text =

Article ID: 117603

Article Last Modified on 9/26/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Works 3.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Works 3.0a
 * Microsoft Works 3.0b

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This article was previously published under Q117603



SUMMARY
All the fields in the Quick Database created by the WorksWizard are formatted as Text. Therefore, anything entered into a field (such as numbers or dates) will appear as text to Works, not as numeric values that can be used in calculations.

Quick Database is a feature of Works 3.0 Wizard



WORKAROUND
Before any data is entered, format the fields to the desired data type such as General, Fixed, Date, and so on.

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If data has already been entered, change the format of the fields using one of the following methods.

OPTION ONE:
Use the VALUE conversion function to create a new field for each field for which you want to have a numeric equivalent. For example, if all entries in FIELD1 of the database need to be converted to numeric, do the following:  Create a new field in the database. In the new field, type the formula:

=value(field1)

The formula places the entries from FIELD1 into the new field and converts them to their numeric values.

OPTION TWO:
Copy and paste the data for each field as follows:
 * 1) In List View, highlight the entries in the field and choose Cut from the Edit menu.
 * 2) Format the field that contained the entries as desired (Fixed, Date, and so on).
 * 3) Open a new Word Processing document.
 * 4) From the Edit menu, choose Paste.
 * 5) Highlight the entries and choose Cut from the Edit menu.
 * 6) Return to the database and highlight the starting position.
 * 7) From the Edit menu, choose Paste.

The data in the field will now be formatted correctly.



Steps to Reproduce Problem

 * 1) Open Works and start the Quick Database WorksWizard.
 * 2) Accept all default choices at the prompts, then choose Create.
 * 3) Type a numeric entry into any of the fields in the created database.
 * 4) Highlight the field with the numeric entry.
 * 5) From the Format menu, choose Number.

NOTE: The format of the field is Text, not a numeric format.

Additional query words: kbhowto db num text val wrong format won't add

Keywords: kbhowto KB117603

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