Converting text based fractions to numerical values

I have a spreadsheet with text based fraction values. I would like to convert these fractions into decimals in an adjacent column.

Basically, I am wondering if there is an easy way to convert 1/8 in B2 to =1/8 in B3. Any ideas?

My first thought is to use the VALUE() function, but that works best with text that cannot be confused as a date. For something like this that I knew would always be a fraction in the form "a/b", I would use something like =VALUE("0 "&B2). This naturally becomes more complicated if the text string can sometimes be a mixed number "c b/a".

If you just try =--B2 you will get a date

Try this, and format as Fraction...
=LEFT(B2,FIND("/",B2)-1)/MID(B2,FIND("/",B2)+1,99)

Did you try exactly what I suggested =VALUE("0 "&B2) or did you try =VALUE(B2). With the latter, I, too get the date value for Jan 8 of current year. I find that it is essential to add the "0 " text to the front of the fraction so that Excel can recognize it as a fraction and not a date.

Originally Posted by MrShorty

Did you try exactly what I suggested =VALUE("0 "&B2)...

MUCH simpler option than my suggestion!!