Convert text to numbers with VALUE
BeginnerData imported from CSV files or other systems often looks numeric, but Excel may still treat it as text. When that happens, totals and averages can break because Excel is not working with real numbers yet.
VALUE converts a text string that looks like a number into an actual number Excel can calculate with.
How VALUE works:
=VALUE(text)
The text argument is the cell that contains the number stored as text.
What you need to do:
- Review the imported values in cells B2:B7.
- Notice the totals in row 9: the imported values in B9 do not total correctly yet because those values are still stored as text.
- Click cell C2.
- Use VALUE to convert the text in B2 into a number.
- Press Enter.
- Copy the formula from C2 down through C7.
When you're done, column C should contain real numbers, and the total in C9 should update correctly as you fill in the conversions.
Need some help?
Hint 1
VALUE has one argument: the text you want Excel to interpret as a real number. In this sheet, that argument should come from the imported values in column B.
Hint 2
The totals in row 9 are there as live feedback: column B is still text, while column C will update once you convert the values.
Hint 3
Build the conversion once in C2 by pointing VALUE at the text in the same row, then fill that pattern down.
Related function(s)
Convert text to numbers with VALUE
BeginnerData imported from CSV files or other systems often looks numeric, but Excel may still treat it as text. When that happens, totals and averages can break because Excel is not working with real numbers yet.
VALUE converts a text string that looks like a number into an actual number Excel can calculate with.
How VALUE works:
=VALUE(text)
The text argument is the cell that contains the number stored as text.
What you need to do:
- Review the imported values in cells B2:B7.
- Notice the totals in row 9: the imported values in B9 do not total correctly yet because those values are still stored as text.
- Click cell C2.
- Use VALUE to convert the text in B2 into a number.
- Press Enter.
- Copy the formula from C2 down through C7.
When you're done, column C should contain real numbers, and the total in C9 should update correctly as you fill in the conversions.
Need some help?
Hint 1
VALUE has one argument: the text you want Excel to interpret as a real number. In this sheet, that argument should come from the imported values in column B.
Hint 2
The totals in row 9 are there as live feedback: column B is still text, while column C will update once you convert the values.
Hint 3
Build the conversion once in C2 by pointing VALUE at the text in the same row, then fill that pattern down.