I’ve formated the cells but it only changes when I re-enter the cell, not on the existing numbers? What am I missing?
The details of your question are unclear, since text cannot be formatted as currency and the title using phrase existing text implies your data are of type “text” while your details talk about “existing numbers” (and type text is not equal to type number).
Currency is a decimal number having (in general) two decimal places (see OASIS ODF Specification - Currency). You could try text-to-number conversion, but in no way changing the format of a cell having text will change the type of the cells data (text will be kept as text - regardless of the format)
(Hint: To convert text that looks like numbers you could use Data -> Text to Columns while the column containing the data being selected and using Column Type Standard)
For an answer specific to your case, it would be helpful that you upload an anonymized sample file, just having the essential data.
I’m in calc, the cell contains numbers, after entry, I formated the cell to currency, expecting to show 2 decimal places and £ symbol. But it didn’t change. in the next cell also formatted, in the same way, I typed a number and the formatting worked. £ 10.00
If it does not change on formatting, they are not numbers at the beginning, the data just look like numbers but are text in fact.
See this FAQ, the procedure also works if the text string is convertible to a currency amount in the current locale.
Removing the formating ‘Clear Direct Formatting’ then reformating as currency.
That worked Thank you.
Removing the formating ‘Clear Direct Formatting’ then reformating as currency.
That worked Thank you.