Data formatting

Hello Kim

Thank you for your question and welcome to the forum.

You can create a custom format to keep the leading zeros at the front of phone numbers. Assuming the numbers all have 11 digits (standard for UK landline and mobile numbers), here's what you do:

1. Select the cells that contain the phone numbers.

2. Right-click and select Format Cells from the shortcut menu that appears.

3. On the Number tab, select Custom from the bottom of the list on the left hand side; then where the box on the right displays 'General' type in 11 zeros like this: 00000000000

4. Click OK. Hopefully the phone numbers will display with the leading zero.

It can be a good idea to set the same custom format on blank cells before typing or importing phone numbers into a spreadsheet so that they keep the leading zeros when the information is first typed or imported into the spreadsheet.

Kind regards
Amanda