This tutorial would explain on how to convert a list of “text which represents numbers” to numbers.
Convert Text to Number
In Calc, if you enter numbers with an apostrophe at the beginning, it would be considered as number. For example, string representation of a number can be entered as ‘123 as below.
If a number is represented as text/string, it would be shown as left aligned as shown above. If a number is represented as number (!), it would be right aligned.
To convert, the above list, use VALUE function. This function, takes the string and returns as numbers as below.
Enter the formula as =VALUE(A1) in cell D1 and drag the cell’s right bottom plus sign handle till D7.
As you can see, the values are converted to numbers using the function.
Though the texts are now numbers, but their internal value still remains the formula. To remove the formula and get the actual converted numbers, use paste special feature as below.
Select the entire range and right-click -> Copy.
Right click in F1 cell and use option: Paste Special -> Paste Special. Then use the option button Values Only at the top.
Now you can see the actual numbers instead of the formula.
![Paste Special - Values [After]](https://libreofficehelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Paste-Special-Values-After.png)
This way you can quickly convert text to numbers.
Feel free to drop a comment using comment box below for any questions.
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How I can transfer english number notation with point as decimal parts into polish number notation with coma as decimal parts. In my Libre Office number format is 12345678,12345678. But in my PowerBasic big data format is 12345678.12345678. So In my LibreOffice my data for calculation are left assigned with point inside and I need mannually replaced each point on coma.
This is an extremely convoluted way to have to perform an everyday task, and LO really needs this functionality built-in.
It’s also not the easiest or fastest way to do this using existing LO functionality.
Agreed! I can’t believe this isn’t a one-click built-in operation in LO (to convert text into numbers).
To convert strings to numbers in existing cells, select the cells and use “Data -> Text to columns”.