Text to Number - Convert Text Values to Numbers
Quick Operations
Text to Number is your essential tool for converting text values that look like numbers into actual numeric values that Excel can use for calculations. When you import data from external sources, copy from websites, or receive files from other systems, numbers often come in as text format, preventing you from performing mathematical operations.
We understand how frustrating it is when your data looks like numbers but Excel treats them as text. Maybe you've imported a CSV file where all the numbers have quotes around them, or you're working with data that has thousands separators that Excel doesn't recognize. Text to Number solves these problems instantly, giving you clean numeric data ready for analysis.
Key Benefits
How to Use
Using Text to Number is straightforward:
- Select Your Data: Highlight the cells containing text values you want to convert to numbers
- Open Text to Number: Click the Text to Number option in the Conversions menu (UF Essentials tab)
- Configure Options: Choose your conversion settings and output location
- Apply Conversion: Transform your text into proper numeric values
Conversion Features
Smart Text Processing
- Trim Spaces: Automatically removes leading and trailing spaces
- Handle Thousands Separators: Processes commas and spaces in numbers (1,234 or 1 234)
- Remove Leading Zeros: Strips unnecessary leading zeros (00123 → 123)
- Preserve Original: Option to keep original data and create converted values in new column
Output Options
- Replace Original: Convert text values in place
- Next Column: Create converted numbers in a new column (preserves original data)
Error Handling
- Safe Conversion: Only converts values that can be properly interpreted as numbers
- Preserve Non-Numeric: Leaves text that isn't numeric unchanged
- Status Feedback: Shows conversion progress and results
- Preview Before Converting: Always check a few sample cells to understand what formatting issues you're dealing with before bulk conversion.
- Use Next Column for Safety: When working with important data, use the "Next Column" option to preserve your original values while creating converted numbers.
- Check for Mixed Content: Some cells might contain both text and numbers - the tool will only convert purely numeric text values.
- Configure Options Appropriately
- Enable "Handle Thousands Separators" for financial data
- Use "Remove Leading Zeros" for most numeric data
- Keep "Trim Spaces" enabled for imported data
- Backup Important Data: For critical datasets, create a backup before performing bulk conversions.
Common Use Cases
Data Import Cleanup
- Fix CSV imports where numbers are treated as text
- Clean up database exports with quoted numbers
- Process web-scraped data with inconsistent formatting
- Prepare imported data for calculations and analysis
Financial Data Processing
- Convert currency amounts with thousands separators
- Process accounting data with various number formats
- Clean up financial reports from different systems
- Prepare data for financial calculations and pivot tables
Inventory and Sales Data
- Convert product quantities and prices from text format
- Process sales figures with formatting inconsistencies
- Clean up inventory counts and measurements
- Prepare data for mathematical operations
Survey and Form Data
- Convert numeric responses that were stored as text
- Process rating scales and numeric feedback
- Clean up form submissions with number formatting issues
- Prepare survey data for statistical analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it only converts text that can be properly interpreted as numbers. Regular text content remains unchanged.
Mixed content cells are left unchanged since they can't be converted to pure numbers.
The tool works with your system's regional settings. For specialized decimal separator handling, use Data Transform Studio.
The tool works on cell values, not formulas. If you have formulas that reference the converted cells, they'll automatically use the new numeric values.
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