(Beginner) Changing column properties for specific rows

ArthurC

I am tracking staff training and have dates for when staff are scheduled for training and have columns as date format.

 

at the top or bottom of the sheet, i would like to do a count of total staff scheduled or completed for that column, however, because i've set the column as date, it changes any numbers i input to as a date.

is there a way to change the properties of specific cells/rows?

Paul Newcome

Unfortunately column types are for the entire column. You cannot change the type for a specific cell or row. Feel free to submit a product enhancement request though.

 

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/739aa75f30ca43a8a22eb53e4da7d409?_ga=2.219033945.1514116697.1560166165-1781996719.1558354772

 

However... Converting the numerical value to text will allow that number to be displayed. It would just have to be converted back to a numerical value using a VALUE function before it can be used as a number in other calculations.

 

To convert a number (for example 42) from a numerical value to a text string, you could do it one of two ways.

1. Either add + "" (plus double quotes) to the end of the number You can also put this at the end of a formula if that formula is generating a number):

 

=42 + ""

 

2. Or you can just wrap the number itself in quotes (this works ONLY for manually entered numbers/you would have to use method 1 if a formula is involved):

 

="42"

ArthurC

this is a great tip and worked. however, when you are then trying to use that cell in a formula, it no longer recognizes it as a number, but now just a string of text and formulas dont work?

ie.

 

A1= 42 + ""

B1 = 8 +  ""

sum(A1:B1) = ???

Paul Newcome

Correct. Sorry. I tucked that little bit away in the middle of my last post. I should have expanded on it a little more.

 

The data is now stored as a text string. You would need to use the VALUE function within your formula to convert it back to a number.

 

=SUM(VALUE(A1), VALUE(B1))

Nency Gandhi

Above has helped in my query as well but what if the value is multiple? For example, I want a total of whole column and each cell property is in date format. How would you use Value function for whole column?