XL: Zip Codes in Data Map Must Be Formatted with Zip Code Style

If you select a column of unformatted ZIP codes and you attempt to create a Data Map object from this information, you receive the following error message in Microsoft Excel version 7.0: In Microsoft Excel 97 and later, no error message is displayed, but no data is added to the chart.

When you create a Data Map object that is based on ZIP codes, the ZIP codes must be formatted with the special Zip Code number format.

To format a range of ZIP codes, follow these steps:

1. On the Format menu, click Cells.
2. Click the Number tab.
3. In the Category list, click Special.
4. In the Type list, click the Zip Code or the Zip Code + 4 format.

This behavior is by design to prevent the possible misinterpretation of numeric data as ZIP codes.