Microsoft KB Archive/178606

= Replacing Text May Change Text to Numbers or Dates =

Article ID: 178606

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q178606





SYMPTOMS
In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article, if you replace characters in a worksheet by clicking Replace on the Edit menu, the formatting of some cells in the worksheet may unexpectedly be changed, for example:



CAUSE
This problem may occur when text is being replaced in a cell and the contents of the cell resemble a number, date, or time. If the contents of a cell resemble a number, date, or time, Microsoft Excel automatically applies an appropriate number format to the cell, even if the cell was previously formatted to display text.



WORKAROUND
Microsoft Excel does not automatically reformat cells if the Transition Formula Entry (TFE) option is turned on. To turn on this option, follow these steps:
 * 1) On the Tools menu, click Options. Select the Transition tab.
 * 2) Click to select the Transition Formula Entry check box. Click OK.
 * 3) On the Edit menu, click Replace. Use the Replace dialog box to replace text as needed in the worksheet. Click Close when you are finished.
 * 4) On the Tools menu, click Options. Select the Transition tab.
 * 5) Click to clear the Transition Formula Entry check box. Click OK.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: XL5 XL7 XL97 XL

Keywords: kbprb KB178606

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