Change Default Number Format?

**papaspudly** · 10-14-2009, 06:10 PM

Good Afternoon,

I am trying to work with a .CSV file using Excel. I am experiencing difficulty with the default settings when the file is opened.

The default numerical format is set to "GENERAL." Unfortunately, this format erases all leading zeroes (I'm sure it's trying to be helpful...) in my data. So a cell that should read '0040056" instead reads "40056."

I try to format the data back to "TEXT" instead of general, but the leading zeroes do not come back.

Is there a way to open a .CSV file with a different default number format?

**brianguy** · 10-14-2009, 06:15 PM

I don't know about setting it permanently for when you open the file, but at least in the file you're already viewing you can select all the cells and change the number format to custom, then put in "0000000" and it will show all leading zeroes. hopefully this should help in the meantime.