How do I retain a zero as the first number in a postal code?

[Laureen]

I've formatted the column as well as tried formatting just an individual cell
for Postal Code. It always drops the first number if it is a zero. I've
formatted the cell as text wtih an apostrophe and was able to retain the
zero. However, I have to remember to do this for every Postal Code that
begins with zero and it's incredibly inefficient process. I don't always
remember to do that and then when I merge my document and Postal Codes
beginning with a zero come over without the beginning zero! This document is
an an address database so I continually run into this problem. I've done
everything I can think of, and wasted alot of time trying to figure this out.
Can someone please assist me? Thank you!

[vencopbrass]

Maybe I'm not understanding, but I formatted the cell using the special category, zip code type. I entered a 5 digit code with the first # a zero. The cell shows the whole number including the zero.
Lisa

[CLR]

If you format the whole column as TEXT, then you do not need the leading
apostrophe's and the leading zero will be retained.

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3



"Laureen" wrote:

> I've formatted the column as well as tried formatting just an individual cell
> for Postal Code. It always drops the first number if it is a zero. I've
> formatted the cell as text wtih an apostrophe and was able to retain the
> zero. However, I have to remember to do this for every Postal Code that
> begins with zero and it's incredibly inefficient process. I don't always
> remember to do that and then when I merge my document and Postal Codes
> beginning with a zero come over without the beginning zero! This document is
> an an address database so I continually run into this problem. I've done
> everything I can think of, and wasted alot of time trying to figure this out.
> Can someone please assist me? Thank you!

[Kevin B]

Select the colums where the zip codes are going to be entered and click
FORMAT in the menu and select CELLS. If necessary click the NUMBER tab. In
the CATEGORY list, select SPECIAL, and in the TYPE panel select Zip Code or
Zip Code + 4
--
Kevin Backmann


"Laureen" wrote:

> I've formatted the column as well as tried formatting just an individual cell
> for Postal Code. It always drops the first number if it is a zero. I've
> formatted the cell as text wtih an apostrophe and was able to retain the
> zero. However, I have to remember to do this for every Postal Code that
> begins with zero and it's incredibly inefficient process. I don't always
> remember to do that and then when I merge my document and Postal Codes
> beginning with a zero come over without the beginning zero! This document is
> an an address database so I continually run into this problem. I've done
> everything I can think of, and wasted alot of time trying to figure this out.
> Can someone please assist me? Thank you!

[Sloth]

use a custom format of

00000


"Laureen" wrote:

> I've formatted the column as well as tried formatting just an individual cell
> for Postal Code. It always drops the first number if it is a zero. I've
> formatted the cell as text wtih an apostrophe and was able to retain the
> zero. However, I have to remember to do this for every Postal Code that
> begins with zero and it's incredibly inefficient process. I don't always
> remember to do that and then when I merge my document and Postal Codes
> beginning with a zero come over without the beginning zero! This document is
> an an address database so I continually run into this problem. I've done
> everything I can think of, and wasted alot of time trying to figure this out.
> Can someone please assist me? Thank you!

[Doug Kanter]

"Laureen" <Laureen@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1244892D-AF00-40EC-97F3-4B37DF0D0745@microsoft.com...
> I've formatted the column as well as tried formatting just an individual
> cell
> for Postal Code. It always drops the first number if it is a zero. I've
> formatted the cell as text wtih an apostrophe and was able to retain the
> zero. However, I have to remember to do this for every Postal Code that
> begins with zero and it's incredibly inefficient process. I don't always
> remember to do that and then when I merge my document and Postal Codes
> beginning with a zero come over without the beginning zero! This document
> is
> an an address database so I continually run into this problem. I've done
> everything I can think of, and wasted alot of time trying to figure this
> out.
> Can someone please assist me? Thank you!

Format the cells as text BEFORE entering or copying data into them. Do it
for enough empty cells to take care of future needs.

[Laureen]

Thanks everyone! Chuck's suggestion worked best forme. I've previously
tried all of your other suggestions and for some odd reason, it still kept
dropping the zero! Crazy, huh?!
Although when I formatted the column as Chuck suggested, I did have to go
back and re-enter a zero to all the Postal Codes I previously entered. The
foolish thing dropped them all!
Anyway, I'm all set now and I thank you!
Muchos Gracias Chuck!

"CLR" wrote:

> If you format the whole column as TEXT, then you do not need the leading
> apostrophe's and the leading zero will be retained.
>
> Vaya con Dios,
> Chuck, CABGx3
>
>
>
> "Laureen" wrote:
>
> > I've formatted the column as well as tried formatting just an individual cell
> > for Postal Code. It always drops the first number if it is a zero. I've
> > formatted the cell as text wtih an apostrophe and was able to retain the
> > zero. However, I have to remember to do this for every Postal Code that
> > begins with zero and it's incredibly inefficient process. I don't always
> > remember to do that and then when I merge my document and Postal Codes
> > beginning with a zero come over without the beginning zero! This document is
> > an an address database so I continually run into this problem. I've done
> > everything I can think of, and wasted alot of time trying to figure this out.
> > Can someone please assist me? Thank you!

[CLR]

You're more than welcome, and thanks for the feedback.........

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3



"Laureen" wrote:

> Thanks everyone! Chuck's suggestion worked best forme. I've previously
> tried all of your other suggestions and for some odd reason, it still kept
> dropping the zero! Crazy, huh?!
> Although when I formatted the column as Chuck suggested, I did have to go
> back and re-enter a zero to all the Postal Codes I previously entered. The
> foolish thing dropped them all!
> Anyway, I'm all set now and I thank you!
> Muchos Gracias Chuck!
>
> "CLR" wrote:
>
> > If you format the whole column as TEXT, then you do not need the leading
> > apostrophe's and the leading zero will be retained.
> >
> > Vaya con Dios,
> > Chuck, CABGx3
> >
> >
> >
> > "Laureen" wrote:
> >
> > > I've formatted the column as well as tried formatting just an individual cell
> > > for Postal Code. It always drops the first number if it is a zero. I've
> > > formatted the cell as text wtih an apostrophe and was able to retain the
> > > zero. However, I have to remember to do this for every Postal Code that
> > > begins with zero and it's incredibly inefficient process. I don't always
> > > remember to do that and then when I merge my document and Postal Codes
> > > beginning with a zero come over without the beginning zero! This document is
> > > an an address database so I continually run into this problem. I've done
> > > everything I can think of, and wasted alot of time trying to figure this out.
> > > Can someone please assist me? Thank you!