Convert Negative Values to Postive Ones

[mikeincousa]

i am trying to change a row of data from - to +.

Example
-1 … to 1
-2…2
-3…3
-4…4

I have tried both of the approaches below. I end up with repetitions of the original line horizontiall ex 1 2 3 4. or a failure to return the needed conversion.

Where am I going wrong?
…
V1 Apache OpenOffice Community Forum - [Solved] cell number sign reversal - (View topic)

A different approach would be “paste special” using an operation.

This way, you modify all values directly, without inserting any formulas.

Type -1 into an empty cell (this is your temporary workspace)

Copy that cell to the clipboard (ctrl+C will do)

Delete the temporary -1 value

Select the range of cells where sign should be reversed

Edit - Paste special (or ctrl+shift+V)

In the Selection section of that “paste special” dialog, tick numbers and untick everything else

In the Operation section, select Multiply.

OK

V2

You think it is a long list of operations? It is really not as complicated as it may look.

-1 > blank cell

CTL+C

delete -1

Set Range

CTl+shift+V

Operations > Multiply

Ok

[Grantler]

@mikeincousa

Where am I going wrong?

You did not upload (an anonymized) sample file for checking your problem… - Cheers

[ve3oat]

If your spreadsheet can accommodate a second row of values, why not add a new row that contains the Absolute Value of the entries in your first row (the one you want to convert to positive values). The ABS() function returns the positive value of any negative number, and the same (positive) value of any positive number. As far as I understand what you want to do, the ABS() function should do it.

(EDITED) If cell A1 in your first row contains -17, then new cell A4 (in your new row) , for example, which contains =ABS(A1), will be +17.

[LeroyG]

@mikeincousa

-1 … to 1

Select the cell range, replace “-” with nothing.

[ve3oat]

Point of clarification – Are you dealing with numerical data in your spreadsheet, or textual data??