Convert numbers stored as text to numbers? - excel

Question

How can I convert numbers stored as text to numbers?
I have tried setting:
ActiveSheet.Range("H154").NumberFormat = "General"
But it doesn't work!
The only things I've found that work are using "Text to columns" or clicking the cell to edit it and then clicking Enter.
But I would really like to find a way to turn number cells in a sheet stored as text into numbers using VBA.

Answer 1

A general technique is to Copy PasteSpecial, Multiply by 1
In code, something like this:
Sub ConvertToNumber()
Dim rng As Range
Dim cl As Range
Dim rConst As Range
' pick an unused cell
Set rConst = Cells(1, 4)
rConst = 1
Set rng = Cells.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeConstants)
rng.NumberFormat = "General"
rConst.Copy
rng.PasteSpecial xlPasteValues, xlPasteSpecialOperationMultiply
rConst.Clear
End Sub

Answer 2

Just use CDbl():
ActiveSheet.Range("H154") = CDbl(ActiveSheet.Range("H154"))

Answer 3

I'm not a coding expert and the "Number Stored as Text" error plagued me for a long time.
I finally found this:
Delimited Text-to-Columns in a Macro
Which got me to this:
Sub ConvertTextToNumber()
Sheets("Worksheet_Name").Select
Range("A1").Select
Selection.TextToColumns _
Destination:=Range("A:A"), _
DataType:=xlDelimited
End Sub
I use this in a macro to copy & reorder columns in a new sheet:
Sub ColumnReorder()
'**********************************************************
'Paste this macro into the Workbook of each new "Employee_List_Weekly_Update"
'Functionality:
'1. Column order in the "Employee_List_Weekly_Update" worksheet changes fairly often.
' The macro will find each column by header name,
' select that column and copy it to the new sheet.
'2. The macro also converts "Employee ID#" to a number,
' removing the "Number saved as Text" error.
'**********************************************************
'Create new sheet
Sheets.Add.Name = "Roster_Columns_Reordered"
'Repeat for each column or range
'Find Column in "Employee_List_Weekly_Update" - Copy it - Paste it in "Roster_Columns_Reordered" - Employee ID#
Dim a As Integer
Sheets("Employee_List_Weekly_Update").Select
Set rngData = Range("A1").CurrentRegion
a = Application.WorksheetFunction.Match("Employee ID#", Range("A1:BB1"), 0)
Columns(a).Select
Selection.Copy
Sheets("Roster_Columns_Reordered").Select
Range("A1").Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
'Use TextToColumns to convert "Number Stored as Text "
Selection.TextToColumns _
Destination:=Range("A:A"), _
DataType:=xlDelimited
'Find Column in "Employee_List_Weekly_Update" - Copy it - Paste it in "Roster_Columns_Reordered" - Name
Dim b As Integer
Sheets("Employee_List_Weekly_Update").Select
Set rngData = Range("A1").CurrentRegion
b = Application.WorksheetFunction.Match("Name", Range("A1:BB1"), 0)
Columns(b).Select
Selection.Copy
Sheets("Roster_Columns_Reordered").Select
Range("B1").Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
'Go to "Roster_Columns_Reordered" - Add AutoFilter - Freeze Top Row
Rows("1:1").Select
Selection.AutoFilter
With ActiveWindow
.SplitColumn = 2
.SplitRow = 1
End With
Rows("2:2").Select
ActiveWindow.FreezePanes = True
Range("A1").Select
End Sub

Answer 4

if you want to convert a selection (even with text in it!), you can use the code by firefiend (http://www.ozgrid.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64027&p=331498#post331498)
I think the magic is in .Value = .Value
vba
Sub macro()
Range("F:F").Select 'specify the range which suits your purpose
With Selection
.NumberFormat = "General"
.Value = .Value
End With
End Sub