Excel 2007 - Corrupt Cell format in default/blank workbook

[ladyck3]

For some reason that I am not privy to, a file that I was working on that was mostly data in numbers that I was working on, on Monday, was all in time format when I opened it on Tuesday.

This has also affected opening a blank workbook. Every time I enter any number it comes up, for instance as 12:00 AM

What has happened? I know in Word one can delete the normal.docx and word will recreate a new blank page.

Is this the same for Excel and if so, what is the default file name. If not, what can I do to fix this... this is truly horrific for all that I do.

HELP PLEASE!!

Laurie

ladyck3
aka: Laurie

 

[Gavona]

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/customize-how-excel-starts-HP005199391.aspx

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/e...orksheet-as-a-template-HP005199596.aspx?CTT=3

Gavin

 

[SkipVought]

Hi,

If your data is numbers, then just select the columns in question and change the NUMBER FORMAT to GENERAL.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[Gavona]

Also try opening excel in safemode:
* Select Start -> Run
* In the run dialog box, type excel.exe /s

All the above affect how Excel starts. The template for a blank workbook is called Book.xlt and can be stored in various places described in the links in my first post. You could simply search for Book.xlt and rename it to eliminate that cause of the oddity in a blank workbook.


None of this really explains how the workbook you are working on got changed to time format.

Gavin

 

[ladyck3]

Gavin, thanks for the file name... I'm at home now but will check my work laptop in the morning.

Skip, I know how to convert the data, the problem is, it was as it should be when I saved it the day before. When I opened it yesterday ALL of the data hd somewho changed to time format... then I started a new spreadsheet and entered a number, it too came up as a time.

Converting my workbook can be done and has to be.. and I had taken care of it ... some 30 worksheets... what a pain.

But when I shut down excel and started a new workbook and it happened on a clean workbook, then I have to think the default blank workbook is corrupted. I do not want, forever more, to have to continually convert any numbers which should start off as numbers from the get go.... from time to number.

The default format is no longer numbers.

Did I make this clear? <shrug> I think deleting/renaming the xlt will cause excel to create a new one and fix the issue going forward.

Thanks to all..
Laurie


ladyck3
aka: Laurie

 

[GlennUK]

It sounds like your Normal cell style got deleted or corrupted ( that's not supposed to happen, as it's a read-only item ) ... I've seen this before, and the fix was to open an older workbook, and do Home/Cell Styles/Merge Styles, and choose to merge styles from the old workbook.

That's to fix a workbook that goes wrong ... use Gavin's hints to fix the template.

Cheers, Glenn.

Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.

 

[ladyck3]

Thanks Glenn. I did start excel in safe mode, we will see. I agree this should not happen, but if this doesnt work, I will use your method. Thanks for replying.

ladyck3
aka: Laurie