Converting text to numeric values

There may be times when you have taken data from another source that looks like numbers, but once pasted or imported into Symphony, it is treated as text. In order to perform any calculations or use such data in a graph, you will need to convert the data from text to values. This article describes two options for this process.

Option 1 - Using the VALUE function
The VALUE function converts text into a number. In the example below, the numbers in cells B2:D4 are actually treated as text by Symphony.

1. Make a copy of the labels (A1:A4) in another location in the spreadsheet. For example, copy the labels to cell A10:A13.
2. In cell B11, enter the formula =VALUE(B2)
3. The result in B11 will be a true numeric value.
4. Copy the formula from B11 to B12:13 and C11:D13.

Now all the data will be true numeric values and you will be able to use them in calculations and graphs.


Option 2 - Using Find and Replace
This option is useful when you don't want to relocate your data (as is done with Option 1) or if you have data that actually should be treated as text. In the example below, using the VALUE function on cells B4 and D3 would result in an error because that data cannot be converted to a numeric value.

1. Highlight your range of data. In this case, you could highlight A1:D4 or just B2:D4.
2. Select Edit > Find and Replace from the menu.
3. In the Search for box, enter .*
4. In the Replacement with box, enter &
5. Click More options.
6. Select Current selection only (this may already be selected).
7. Select Regular expressions.

8. Click Replace all, then close the dialog box.

All the data will be true numeric values.