format column in Numbers for zip code

CR,

There's an easy way to format your zip codes in Numbers so that they display leading zeros, even if they came in as numeric values with the zeros stripped off. There is a Format type in Numbers called Numeral System. If you format your ZIP column to Numeral System with Base 10 and 5 Places, that should give you what you are looking for. I have checked whether there is any problem with pasting ZIP codes into a table preformatted for Numeral System and it seems to function properly for all types of ZIP codes.

Jerry

When opening an Excel file in Numbers, you have no formatting options until the document has been opened/imported.

You can format the column as text in Excel, as I've done here (in Libre Office) before saving it as an Excel (.xls) file (first image). The result, when opened in Numbers, is shown in the second image.

Column C formatted as Text. Other columns left to recognize what was entered. Libre Office document saved as .xls file.

xls file above opened in Numbers '09. No changes made.

Regards,

Barry

start by selecting the cell(s) yu want to format, then go to the Format menu and choose Create Custom Cell Format:

In the dialogue that opens:

• Edit the name to reflect the use to which this format will be placed.
• Leave the type as Numbers & Text
• Note the example (orange circle) showing how a number will appear under the curent format.
• Click the white triangle (see arrow) in the Integer tablet (red circle) to open the options menu.

Take three trips to the options menu:

• Choose Hide Separator
• Choose Show Zeros for Unused Digits
• Choose Add Digit

Click OK to return to the document.

Note that this will work for the original five digit Zip codes. Extended five-four codes will be treated as text, as can be seen in the image above. and will not sort correctly (see column D of left table below). For correct sorting, format the column as text and enter the Zip codes including the leading zeros, as has been done in the single column on the right (before the column was sorted into the displayed order).

Regards,

Barry

My goodness, thank you! Am I wrong to think this should not be so complicated; that zip code should just be an option for the cell format? Anyway I am most grateful for this info, as I am trying to help some senior citizens with their mailing list.

Christine

crawson,

this forum is identified as a for for the program Number from Apples iWork suite. If you need help with Microsoft Excel it would be better to pursue the topc on a Microsoft forum since it would have more people there that use Excel.

Zip is not a standard formatting option (best I am aware) in either Excel or Numbers. Neither are phone numbers or physical addresses.

Wonder if you can help with one more thing. I was successful importing the spreadsheet to contacts to print off mailing labels, but I cannot figure out how to edit the mailing labels for the print to be centered and a little smaller. It only lets me save as a PDF.

Format the column as text, or enter a ' (single quotation mark) before the Zip to tell Numbers this should be treated as text.

Regards,

Barry

Jerrold you are the MAN!

How do you format?

" If you format your ZIP column to Numeral System with"

Hi Barry,

Welcome back! We missed you 😢.

Ian.