Copy Paste Serial No to Excel in Text format

[linan123]

Hello,
I am trying to copy serial numbers from PDF file to Excel. The serial numbers are in 5 columns, several rows. Each Serial number is 18 digits.

Initially, I copy and paste them to excel, it appears in the first column, then I use Text to Column to make each serial number goes to a separate cell, and every cell in number format. It seems fine, but I realized the last 3 digits becomes 0s since Excel only take the first 15 digits. In order to do analysis, I need the serial numbers to be in Text format. I followed the same process, but just change Text to Column setting to Text instead of number, however, only the first column numbers are in Text format, and the next 4 columns are still in number format and i still can not see the last 3 digits.

Is that a way to resolve the issue? Thanks in advance!!

Nan

[ScottA]

Nan -

You have it correct (almost). You just need to go one step further.

You need to click each field (column) that is being converted and choose text. See the image attached Two fields are still "General" and will be treated as numbers.

An alternative method rather than clicking each column individually would be to click in the first column in the data preview - scroll over to the last column using the scroll bar at the bottom then hold down the 'shift' key and click in the last column. Now chose the text radio button and all the columns will be assigned the text data type.

Hope that helps!

Scott