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General discussion

excel number problem

Oct 10, 2010 7:20AM PDT

I have been using microsoft excel 2003 for 7 years and never had a problem with it, but recently it has developed one weird glitch. Every time i try to use the number 1 it changes it to the word adel and i cant figure out why, nor can i make it stop any suggestions?

Discussion is locked

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Strange problem indeed.
Oct 10, 2010 7:28AM PDT

Let's make it clear.

a. In a cell you type: 1. The result is adel (if I understand you correctly).
b. Assuming this was cell A2, you type =A2 in cell B2. What's the result?
c. In a cell you type =1. What't the result?
d. In a cell you type =1+1. What's the result?
e. In a cell you type =1/2. What's the result?
In all these cases 1 is number.

f. In a cell you type 111. What's the result?
Now it's not a number, now it's a digit.

g. In a cell you type A1. What's the result?
Now it's not a number, nor a digit, now it's a character.

Now for the big experiment. Make a new Windows user account and try there. Any difference?

Kees

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strange problem
Oct 17, 2010 8:40AM PDT

answers to your questions

a. yes
b. adel
c. #NAME?
d. #NAME?
e. #NAME?
f. 111
g. a1
and if i go into a new user this problem does not occur. but now it happens in word too! it just wont allow me to use the number 1, never realized how much i use it till i cant anymore!argh!!!!!!!!!!

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Re: 1 and adel
Oct 17, 2010 5:50PM PDT

Could be some autochange setting, especially in Word. But maybe it exists in Excel also.

If you can't find it, start using that new account. Transfer all your data from the old account. After a month or so, you won't know better.

Kees