Numeric format question

I type in a cell:

5-3

I have set the column numeric format to Text. However when I remove the 
focus from the cell it changes to:

+5-3

How can I make it to stay 5-3?

Eustace:
> I type in a cell:
> 5-3
> I have set the column numeric format to Text. However when I remove the 
> focus from the cell it changes to:
> +5-3
> How can I make it to stay 5-3?

I assume you do not need to use the Cell in computation.
Then, type in: <apostrophe>5-3[Enter]
You do not need to change the format.

Setting a whole Column (or Row) to any format option is not a good idea, 
perhaps unless you have previously used Tools|Settings|Compatibility to 
reduce Sheet size to some figure very much smaller than the default.
-- 
Good wishes!
Roy Lewis
C_Tech volunteer
(UK)

If you want to change the properties, use Constraints, labels only, 
rather than Numeric Format, Text. This is an alternative to Lemoto's 
suggestion.

-- 
Jim Latham

On Thu, 31 Aug 2006 09:36:22 -0400, Eustace wrote:

> I type in a cell:
> 
> 5-3
> 
> I have set the column numeric format to Text. However when I remove the 
> focus from the cell it changes to:
> 
> +5-3
> 
> How can I make it to stay 5-3?

A text numeric format is different than a constraint of text only.  You are
looking for the later.
When you format a section of cells and want to force it to be text only,
right click on the highlighted section and choose properties.  Click on the
Constraints tab.  Select Labels Only.  As for the "text format," I'm
not
even sure it does any thing.

Mark

On Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:53:05 +0100, lemoto wrote:

> Mark:
>> As for the "text format," I'm not
>> even sure it does any thing.
>>
> It does something for a formula.
> For 5-3, it indeed does nothing.-)}

Ahhh!  The same thing you get with Print | Page Setup | Options | Cell
Formulas, but only for a cell, not the entire worksheet.  Got it!  Thanks.