Dec 05 2022 09:51 PM
I applied the "stocks" data type to a cell. How do I remove the data type from the cell so that I can use the cell for plain text without Excel interpreting my entry as a ticker symbol?
Dec 05 2022 09:53 PM
@brianmasson Select the cells, right-click and then Data Type, Convert to Text.
Dec 06 2022 09:27 PM
@Riny_van_Eekelen This does not work. It does convert the current content of the cell to text, but when I delete the text and try to enter something else, Excel interprets it as a stock symbol. In other words, it seems the cell is permanently defined as a "stock" type cell.
Dec 06 2022 10:40 PM
@brianmasson Works for me. Then I don't know what's happening. Sorry!
May 23 2024 05:34 AM
I had the same issue with converting to text not working as soon as I tried to change what was in the cell. This work-around worked for me.
1.) Go ahead and do that first step already mentioned: Select the cell, right-click and choose Data Type=>Convert to Text.
2.) Go to an unused cell in the spreadsheet, select it, right-click and choose Format Cells. Then, on the Number tab, choose Text.
3.) In that cell, type the text you wanted in the original cell, then cut and paste it into the original cell. For me, that finally worked. Excel doesn't force it back to the Stocks data type. Hope this helps.
Jul 23 2024 08:53 AM
Jul 23 2024 08:53 AM
Jul 23 2024 09:20 AM
Completely agree. It's a kludgey, clunky band-aid, but I just thought I'd share for the users who might find it useful until 2047 when MS gets around to fixing it.