How can I get an Excel spreadsheet to show the leading zero in a five-digit ID number?

do a custom number format of 00000 for the cell(s)

This assumes that the value will always be five digits

Format - Cells - Number tab - Custom, then enter 00000

Format the cells as text and the leading zeros will be maintained. In Excel 2007 the numbers that are text formatted can still be used in calculations as real numbers. This may be true in other versions as well.

Select the column

Right Click

Choose format cells

Then custom

Choose 0 from Type

Enter 00000 in that field

Choose ok

I had to do something similar recently. In my case, it was 5 decimal points, so I put 0.00000. In your case you want to put the format as 00000.

use a ' symbol in front of the digits like '000405

hope this helps. Good luck

tom

thomas69k@yahoo.com