How to Change Heading Numbers to Text in Excel

In this article, we will learn How to Change Heading Numbers to Text in Excel.

Numbers and text in Excel

Excel takes value in two forms: Numbers and text. Text is aligned to go to the left left side of the cell whereas numbers are aligned to go right. Date, time, percentage, currency all include as numbers.

Convert to text in Excel

There are many ways to convert numbers to text in Excel. But will explain some of the most common practices.

1. Select the heading row. Go to Home > change number format from general to text.
2. If there are few cells which need to be converted. Then Use Apostrophe before cell value. Like '2017
3. If you have a range of cells then Select the range. use right click on selected cells > Go to Format cells > Text > Ok.

Example :

All of these might be confusing to understand. Let's understand how to use the function using an example. Here we have a sample data with a header row.

As you can see the date values having year is given in the header row. So this cell can be treated as other headers (text values). So we convert this cell using the steps explained below.

Use Apostrophe char ( ' ) before cell value

As you can see the cell value shifts to left aligned which means it will be treated as text value.

Alternate way

Or you can just select the cells and go to home > change General to text (under number format).

Or you can right click the selected cells and Select Format cells. Under format cells option, change the format cell

Here are all the observational notes using the formula in Excel
Notes :

1. Select the cells before proceeding to steps.
2. There are a number of ways, but these are the most common practices.

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