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JillRipley's avatar
JillRipley
Copper Contributor
Jun 28, 2021

Leading zeros in excel spreadsheet

Excel remove the leading zero's in my zip code column. I have tried everything to change formatting. It will correct while I am working in the file, but I save it and the zero's go away again. I need...
excel
Riny_van_Eekelen's avatar
Riny_van_Eekelen
Platinum Contributor
Jun 28, 2021

JillRipley Format the column with the zip-codes as text first, then enter the codes. Alternatively, type an apostrophe in the beginning of each zip code. If this doesn't work or make any sense, please upload your file.

  • Riny_van_Eekelen's avatar
    Riny_van_Eekelen
    Platinum Contributor
    Jun 28, 2021

    JillRipley I see. Assuming you are on a PC, Excel opens a CSV file automatically, splitting the texts at the  comma's and applying what it thinks to be the most appropriate data type for the columns generated.

     

    Rename the CSV file to one with a TXT extension. Then from within Excel, open the TXT file. A Text Import Wizard will open . In step 1, choose "Delimited". Press Next. In step 2 select Comma as the delimiter. Press next. Now select the column that holds the ZIP codes. It says "general" at the top. In the top left part of the window, select Text. Then press Finish. Now, the Zip column will have retained the leading zero's. See attached.

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