Convert text to numbers in Excel 2000

[jmuscat]

I have a large spreadsheet of data imported from SAP.
I am now attempting to do a vlookup against this data with another spreadsheet. The problem is my customer number column is reading as Text, so that I cannot successly sort in proper ascending order, ergo my vlookup is not working correctly.
I have tried to format text to numbers but still reads as text.
Is there another way to convert this text to numbers?

 

[Zathras]

Insert a temporary column
Fill with formula =A1+0
copy and paste special values
delete the temporary column

 

[jmuscat]

Many thanks for the quick response, I was obviously having a brain snap today. Tried the same as above but forgot to reformat formula cell to numbers.

 

[acron]

The following procedure should eliminate the need for an additional column.

1. Enter a Zero (0) in any unused cell. Copy that cell,

2. select the column of data you want to convert

3. Select PasteSpecial, and choose the Add operation.

If you want a particular number format to apply to the converted data, apply that format to the Zero cell before copying. When finished you can delete the zero.

A.C.