TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: Leading Zeros?

Re: Leading Zeros?

Dave Close (dave@compata.com)
17 Feb 2005 19:23:49 -0800

AES <siegman@stanford.edu> writes:

> ... A few quick tests show that the default
> behavior is to automatically and irretrievably discard leading zeros
> on integer numbers keyed into an Excel worksheet cell or a Mathematic
> list.

If you define a spreadsheet cell as "text", you can enter all the
leading zeros you like and keep them. Unfortunately, the default
setting is "general", which is neither text nor numeric: it means
treat the value as numeric if it only contains digits, text otherwise.

If you have data where leading zeros have been lost, it isn't
difficult to restore them on retrieval using a print format statement
of whatever style is appropriate for the system you are using.

Dave Close, Compata, Costa Mesa CA "Politics is the business of getting
dave@compata.com, +1 714 434 7359 power and privilege without
dhclose@alumni.caltech.edu possessing merit." - P. J. O'Rourke

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