Excel 2007 : Format cells as "custom" 5 digits

[MyronCope]

Hello,

Using Excel 2007 and I have a column with 5 numbers that I need to format to include all 5 numbers. EG:

I simply want to format the excel field so that: 00550 will be read as 00550, not "550"

It was created by someone else and the column was formatted as "special" and 5 digit zip code however what is happening with this is when I read each cell using my .net program it strips out any leading zeroes, however I need to read all digits.

To try to get around this I did the following:

1. highlighted the entire column
2. right clicked and selected "format cells"
3. under the default "Number" tab selected "Custom"
4. typed in 5 zeroes and clicked "save"

However after saving the formatting change and then I click on the column again it still shows the formatting as being "Special" but I have changed the formatting to "Custom"

Does anyone know why my changes are not being saved?

[Marcol]

Hi Myron

Try this link to a post on the forum, it is for 3digits, but the methods are the same

http://www.excelforum.com/excel-prog...-3-digits.html

Cheers