Help With Excel

I'm running Microsoft Office 2010 and creating a chart in Excel with numbers. My problem is that when I enter a number like "08793456" and then tab to the next box (cell), the "0" disappears and I'm left with "8793456". I need to have that darn "0" there. I know it's something simple, but I just can't figure it out. Anyone know? Thanks.

Using Excel 2003, I am able to define the column as text, enter the number with leading zeros, and then use it elsewhere in the spreadsheet as if it were a number.
For example, column A is defined as text. In cell A1 I type 00023, and because it is a text cell the zeros are not dropped.
Cell B1 contains the formula =A1 * 2, and displays as 46 (2 times 23).
Probably works the same way in Excel 2010, but I don't have 2010 on this computer, so I can't say for sure.


Edit: Oops. I see lsayre already gave the same answer while I was researching.

Right click on the column that is giving you problems, format cells,number, treat as text.

Easiest way that I usually accomplish this is to start the number with an apostrophe. For example instead of 08793456 type '08793456 and the zero should stay.

Fixed! Thanks guys!

Yaaa, I don't know much about Excel, but I'd guess start the number with a period. Of course that doesn't help if it ends up being a decimal point.

Yes, a TICK Mark Or Single apostrophe will keep the formatting of the entered data with preceeding 0's. We have the same problem in our system at work, the Default Value is 0000.00 in the database, but when trying to update it from a spreadsheet, you have to enter '0000.00 .

Don't some Excel programs do math for you? Does the tick bother in those setups?

It would calculate them if set to NUMERIC and NO LEADING Zeros.
But sometimes you need it for Zip Codes that start with Zero.

If it's a TEXT field, I don't think it will calculate it.