Forum Discussion
why text values are not converting to numbers
Usually Excel do all transformations from from one locale to another automatically. Issues could be if people use texts instead of formatted, includes as dates or as currency, numbers. Or if you import text files. In which locale file was created that's only if check how such texts are formatted.
If you is able to have numbers by changing of advanced settings, when Text to Columns definitely shall work without such change. I have no idea why it didn't work in your case, if only on thirds stage of the wizard you have misprint in Advanced setting for decimal / thousand separator, or set them as for your locale, not as they are for source locale.
My question, is there an automatic way to detect locale, like if i frequently get files from other regions, i should manually modify it each time? and as i understand if i modify it, this setting will be active for my future files unless i change it, its not a setting for the current workbook/file
Usually Excel do all transformations from from one locale to another automatically. Issues could be if people use texts instead of formatted, includes as dates or as currency, numbers. Or if you import text files. In which locale file was created that's only if check how such texts are formatted.
If you is able to have numbers by changing of advanced settings, when Text to Columns definitely shall work without such change. I have no idea why it didn't work in your case, if only on thirds stage of the wizard you have misprint in Advanced setting for decimal / thousand separator, or set them as for your locale, not as they are for source locale.