Works: How to Preserve Leading Zeros in a Number in a Spreadsheet Cell or Database Field

This article describes how to preserve leading zeros in a number in a Microsoft Works spreadsheet cell or database field.

For example, if you type a five-digit ZIP code that begins with a zero in a cell or field, Works truncates the leading zero by default.

Note This behavior does not occur if you type a number that contains a HYPHEN (-), such as a nine-digit ZIP code, because Works automatically formats any number that contains a HYPHEN (-) as text.

Database

To preserve leading zeros in a number in a Works database field, follow these steps:

1. Select the field where you want to preserve leading zeros.
2. On the Format menu, click Field.
3. Under Format, click Number.
4. In the Appearance box, click 01235.
5. In the Number of digits box, type the maximum number of leading zeros you want to preserve, and then click OK.
   
   For example, to preserve leading zeros for a field that contains a five-digit ZIP code, type 5 in the Number of digits box.

To preserve leading zeros in a number in a Works database field when you merge the field into another document, save the database as a Text & Commas (*.csv) file, and then use the .csv file as the data source for the merge operation.

Spreadsheet

To preserve leading zeros in a number in a Works spreadsheet cell, follow these steps:

1. Select the cells where you want to preserve leading zeros.
2. On the Format menu, click Number.
3. Under Format, click Leading Zeros.
4. In the Number of digits box, type the maximum number of leading zeros you want to preserve, and then click OK.
   
   For example, to preserve leading zeros in a cell that contains a five-digit ZIP code, type 5 in the Number of digits box.