I have having a total memory loss. I have an Excel data base which consists of thousands of phone numbers ( in XXX-XXX-XXXX format) that I need to add a 1- in front of each in order for a fax dialer to be able to recognize and then properly dial. I have done it before, however I am at a complete loss to remember the formula or procedure to do so. I know there is an easier way than doing it manually. Thanks in advance for suggestions. - D. Moore - Denver, CO. I think more info would be helpful. I've never seen any fax command in Excel. Exactly how do you use Excel to dial these fax numbers? Can the number format be 1-XXXXXXXXX, instead of 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX, or just 1XXXXXXXXXX? You are correct on the XXXXXXXXXX format. I am helping a friend (not on this machine) and forgot about the lack of hyphens. Does that help? Just need a 1XXXXXXXXXX format established. Thanks again for taking the time to help. Regards - DaveDave...

I'm using Excel 2000, I don't know what you're using...

If your phone number cells are currently displayed as 555-555-5555, then you can change the formatting of the cells by doing this...test it in only one cell first.

1. Let's say you have a cell with the following content: 5555555555
2. To format this cell to a phone number, you'd simply click on that cell, select Format/Cells.../Number Tab/Special/Phone Number/OK
3. The cell will display 5555555555 as (555) 555-5555
4. You want it to display as 1-555-555-5555...correct?
5. Click on that cell, select Format/Cells.../Number Tab/Custom/
6. To the right you will see a box where you can scroll down to see a formula that looks like this: [<=9999999]###-####;(###) ###-####
7. Once selected...you will see that formula in the Type: box.
8. Change the formula in the Type: box to this: [<=9999999]###-####;1-###-###-####
9. Click OK.
10. The number should now be displayed as 1-555-555-5555.

Hopefully this is what you want.

You can now format a group of cells to reflect that change by using the following:

1. Select the group of cells...
2. Click Format/Cells.../Number Tab/Custom
3. Scroll down to the new formula you have already created...select it...click the OK button.
4. The group of cells will be changed to the new phone number format.

Let us know if this is what you want...Quote

8. Change the formula in the Type: box to this: [<=9999999]###-####;1-###-###-####

I had looked at that, too, but I was not sure it would serve his purpose since the prefix, 1, is not actually part of the cell contents, as seen in the formula bar when the cell is selected. So, even though the special format makes the cell display 1-###-##-###, or 1#########, the actual content is ###-##-### or #########, depending on the exact formatting.

That's why I asked how he used Excel in connection with the fax numbers.

My friend is running XT ....