Saving Formatted Data as Actual Data Value in Excel

[ETCS]

I have a spreadsheet with a list of clients that I need to import to my database. The Phone and Fax numbers in this sheet are 10 straight digits with no formatting. They need to be in standard Phone format before they are loaded to the db. I can change the cell format in excel, but it only applies a mask. I need to know how to make the formatted value the actual value.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards.

 

[AnotherHiggins]

You're right that changing the format only changes how the data is displayed, not stored.

But I'd suggest you import that number into your database and format it in the database to look however you want. You have much more flexibility this way when, down the road, you need to change the way the number is displayed.

But you can use a formula to actually change the way the data is stored. You didn't state what format in which you want to see the phone number, but here's a common display:
[tab]="(" & left(A1, 3) & ") " & mid(A1, 4, 3) & "-" & right(A1, 4)

But again, I'd strongly suggest you just apply a format in the database.

[tt][blue]-John[/blue][/tt]
[tab][red]The plural of anecdote is not data[/red]

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[ETCS]

Thanks for the assist John. I would agree completely with regards to formatting the data in the database itself. Unfortunately, this database requires the phone number to be formatted correctly when imported. If not, the number is completely jacked up when it's displayed in the application.

Again, thanks for sharing the wisdom!

-Paul