How do I keep the zeros infront of a number in excel
- If it is a true number, format the cell(s) with the needed decimal digits – preferably by means of a cell style – so input 123 gives 00123.
- If the “number” is an identifier, a zip code, phone “number” or any kind of ID number, enter the number as text.
2a) Format the cell(s) as number format “Text” – preferably by means of a cell style.
2b) Enter the “number” with a leading apostrophe. The leading apostrophe will not be part of the cell’s text. It marks the subsequent characters as literal text.
2b) is somewhat broken. Will be fixed in version 7.5.
Numbers are calculatable, text is not. SUM(textcells) returns 0.
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So, I am having the same issue when entering the zip code “04972.” Calc will only enter “4972.” I changed the format to text, sentence case, for the whole column. It still says "4972. I will be using this spreadsheet to create a Table in Base. The zip code Field Type in the Table will be [Varchar]. Will base read this column as text because of the apostrophe or will it throw an error because of the number format?
You likely mean the respective menu command Format → Text → Sentence case:
But what you need is Format → Cells → Numbers → Text:
And this needs to be done prior to the text entry.
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Lol love this answer.
It worked. 
