Re: [libreoffice-users] CALC convert text to numbers

At 14:57 10/11/2013 -0700, Oogie McGuire wrote:
> I have a spreadsheet that is the output of a SQLite Database on 
> Android. It contains numbers that have been formatted as text. When 
> I copy the columns into my LibreOffice Spreadsheet I want to make 
> sure that they are interpreted as numbers. However they come in as 
> text and the manuals and help at Libre Office are less than useful.
>
> I found reference to a value function, but no information on how to 
> apply it to this data.  I tried just changing the format of the 
> cells to be number but that didn't do anything at all.  I've also 
> attempted various styles of paste special but still it doesn't 
> work.  There has got to be a way to quickly say this text is all 
> really numbers and get it working!

There are various ways to do this, and you may want to experiment in 
order to discover what suits your work flow.

The VALUE() function?  Yes, you can use that:
o In a spare column, row, or range (as appropriate), or even on 
another sheet, enter =VALUE(Xn) - where Xn is the start of the range.
o Fill the formula down the column, along the row, or through the 
range.  You now have a copy of your data - but as numbers, not text.
o If desired, copy the numeric values and paste them back over the 
originals, but using Edit | Paste Special... (or right-click | Paste 
Special... or Ctrl+Shift+V) instead of ordinary Paste.
o In the Paste Special dialogue, remove the tick from "Paste all" if 
necessary and ensure that Numbers and Formats are ticked but Formulas 
is not ticked.
o You can now delete the temporary values or delete their rows or 
columns if you wish.

No, changing the format of the cells will not help: a cell's format 
affects the way its value is displayed and the way inserted values 
are handled, but not the actual contents of the cell.

Another easy way is via a comma-separated-value file.  Save the sheet 
with your rogue text values using File | Save As... and selecting 
"Text CSV (.csv)" for "Save as type:".  Now open the resulting 
(temporary, scratch) CSV file in LibreOffice and you will have 
numeric values that you can copy where you need them.  Yes - as has 
already been suggested - you could alternatively import the CSV file 
as an additional sheet in your existing spreadsheet document.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker


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