Tryng to shut down / disable Excell auto-parsing

**opelgol2k** · 04-23-2012, 10:34 AM

Hi all !

Im having a problem. I have 2 files that are generated by an .exe application that i dont have the source code and i cant modify.
The problem is that i have some fields (data columns data) that have zeros before the first non zero number and excell detects that is a number and auto format it. The problem is basically that this file is automated created and i cannot open it and prepare the columns because my app erase the file always that it need to actualize the data.

In conclusion, i really need this right know ... the work i need to do to do again the app is considerably large and i need a fast solution.

I was thinking that maybe there is an option on excell to disable auto formatig. Is this posible ? i cant find the option and i cant find it on GOOGLE GURU'S results.

I'll apreciate any HELP !
Thanks !

**Richard Buttrey** · 04-23-2012, 10:54 AM

I'm not quite clear what you mean by auto formats, nor indeed what you mean by 'preparing the columns'.

Is it an option to let the file load and then do whatever you need to afterwards or are you wanting to stop the file loading and then doing some formatting?

You'd be better advised to upload the workbook in question so that we can take a look.

Regards

**opelgol2k** · 04-23-2012, 11:23 AM

When im talking about auto-format i mean about the parsing that excell does. If you put an string like "050" into a numeric column excell parses it and do this output "50".

When the file is generated it pass data like this to the excell file :

Rnc
003100428170
003100428170
003100435019
003100459134
003100459134

When i open the excell file, excell PARSES the file and detects for his own that rows form him are numbers and he understand that zero at right is not usefull. But for me it is usefull that zeros at the right.

If you open the file, and write some text first excell understand or parses that column like a text but i cannot do that because the file is auto generated and when i open it excell does his auto parse job ... and ruins my file putting an output like this

Rnc
3100428170
3100428170
3100435019
3100459134
3100459134

So, i was wondering if i can DISABLE excel auto parsing.

**Richard Buttrey** · 04-23-2012, 11:55 AM

You have a degree of control over how data parsing takes place and are able to force a particular column to be Text or a Number (amongst other options). If your file has an auto run macro then it may just be a question of modifying the macro. But as I said you'll need to upload the file for us to comment further.

You can disable an auto run macro by holding the shift key down when you click the 'Enable Macros' button.

**JosephP** · 04-23-2012, 01:13 PM

can't you import the data to excel instead of opening the file? that'll let you say what format the columns are.

**opelgol2k** · 04-23-2012, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by JosephP

can't you import the data to excel instead of opening the file? that'll let you say what format the columns are.

Sure, i can do it and it works like that. But the problem is that there is so many files... and the principal problem is when end user uses it on his pc, so i cant tell them to do that always he needs to read the file generated by the app.

But my question is simple, this FEATURE of excel, i cannot disable it ??
That will be awsome, because programmatically i do it like it has to be, but excel open the data and parse it and edit my data.

Thanks for help !