LINKED TABLE TO EXCEL PREVENTING DATA TYPE=NUMBER

[MDWPBCA]

WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE AN ACCESS DATABASE USING DATA FROM AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET. THE EXCEL SPREADSHEET CONTAINS BOTH TEXT AND NUMBERS BUT ALL FIELDS ARE FORMATTED TO TEXT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE LINKED TABLE IS CREATED IN ACCESS, IT CHANGES THE DATA TYPE OF THE FIELDS WITH NUMBERS TO A NUMBER DATA TYPE.

WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO EITHER KEEP IT IN TEXT SO THAT WHEN THE DATABASE IS USED, IT DOESN'T CREATE DECIMALS; OR WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO EDIT THE DATABASE (EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT ALLOWING US TO EDIT A LINKED TABLE) TO REMOVE THE DECIMALS.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!!