How can I have an initial zero in an Excel cell?

ALupin · External Since: Oct 31, 2005 Posts: 3

I want to be able to enter times as eg 0845 but no matter what cell format I
use, there is a problem, either that the initial zero is lopped off or that I
am informed there is an error. Is there any way of solving this?

bj · External Since: Dec 23, 2004 Posts: 803

try
<format><cell><number><custom>
enter 0000
and you will get a four digit display with an initial display with a leading
zero.
Note this is not a time function

"ALupin" wrote:

> I want to be able to enter times as eg 0845 but no matter what cell format I
> use, there is a problem, either that the initial zero is lopped off or that I
> am informed there is an error. Is there any way of solving this?

Hairy Hurdler · External Since: Oct 31, 2005 Posts: 1

I use Format, Cells, Number tab, select "Custom" format and select the "0"
just below "General"; then I add three zeros to the "0" displayed in "Type"
and this format is then available for use.

"bj" wrote:

> try
> <format><cell><number><custom>
> enter 0000
> and you will get a four digit display with an initial display with a leading
> zero.
> Note this is not a time function
>
> "ALupin" wrote:
>
> > I want to be able to enter times as eg 0845 but no matter what cell format I
> > use, there is a problem, either that the initial zero is lopped off or that I
> > am informed there is an error. Is there any way of solving this?

ALupin · External Since: Oct 31, 2005 Posts: 3

Brilliant, Hairy Hurdler - many, many thanks. This has been foxing me for
over a year!!

"Hairy Hurdler" wrote:

> I use Format, Cells, Number tab, select "Custom" format and select the "0"
> just below "General"; then I add three zeros to the "0" displayed in "Type"
> and this format is then available for use.
>
> "bj" wrote:
>
> > try
> > <format><cell><number><custom>
> > enter 0000
> > and you will get a four digit display with an initial display with a leading
> > zero.
> > Note this is not a time function
> >
> > "ALupin" wrote:
> >
> > > I want to be able to enter times as eg 0845 but no matter what cell format I
> > > use, there is a problem, either that the initial zero is lopped off or that I
> > > am informed there is an error. Is there any way of solving this?

Argghhhh · External Since: Nov 11, 2006 Posts: 1

BUT when you save the file and go back to it the number looks the same but
the format has changed from 0000 to Greek !! Anybody else had this problemo
? It screws the cell format for later merging to other documents I've found.

"bj" wrote:

> try
> <format><cell><number><custom>
> enter 0000
> and you will get a four digit display with an initial display with a leading
> zero.
> Note this is not a time function
>
> "ALupin" wrote:
>
> > I want to be able to enter times as eg 0845 but no matter what cell format I
> > use, there is a problem, either that the initial zero is lopped off or that I
> > am informed there is an error. Is there any way of solving this?

pphread · Joined: Jun 10, 2009 Posts: 1

Simply format the cell. Select custom and type in hh:mm and click OK. DONE.