Multiplying columns of numbers in Excel

[Billy T]

Hi Team

I have two files, each of four columns, with 40 and 50 numbers respectively in each column representing four channels of electronic data. I need to multiply every number by 3 (or perhaps 3.x, I'm not 100 % sure yet). That is 360 separate calculations and 360 opportunities to make a mistake entering the new value.

It figures that Excel can do this for me, but I am an absolute novice at any form of formula use in Excel. I can do it in rows if that is easier as there would only be four numbers in each row, however I don't care how I achieve the end result as long as I don't spend all night and half of tomorrow doing it.

Can anybody provide me with a step 1-2-3-4 etc process that an Excel tyro can follow without having a serious brain implosion?

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
[pre]I shoulda bought robo's Excel book
when it was on special. [/pre]

[godfather]

Simply put the number that you want to multiply all the column(s) by in a spare cell off to the side.

Select the cell and Edit - Copy (or right click - copy) the cell

Then highlight all the numbers you want multiplied by the copied cell.

Then edit-paste special - select values - select multiply - OK

You can delete the number that you used to multiply by, the cell is no longer needed.

[Billy T]

Can't believe that it is that simple, or that you provided the answer so quick Godfather.

Thanks heaps

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

[Billy T]

*Cough*

?:| :_|

I seem to have hit a wall here.

Edit - Paste Special offers only unicode text or text, there is no 'select values' option.

This is Excel 2000, does that make a difference?

While I await an answer, I'll search the help files.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

[godfather]

That option works on Excel 2000 as far as I can remember, also on Excel 97.
Can't imagine what you are doing to not get the normal paste special options, what you describe usually only occurs if pasting between separate instances of Excel and not within the same spreadsheet.

Is the number you are pasting really a number or formatted as text I wonder. This can happen if you have imported the sheet from a non-Excel source?

[Billy T]

Your perspicacity never ceases to amaze me Godfather, it was indeed copied from a text file. :O

Now, I do know how to change to number format (at least I think I do) so I'll have a little play and report results.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

[Billy T]

Magic Gf :^O

I also discovered that it helps heaps if you first save the Excel file as a spreadsheet too!!

Thank you *3,

I will sleep easy tonight, and much earlier than anticipated.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

[godfather]

We aim to please..

Using Excel for several hours every day, one learns these little tricks.

Knowing the type of files you are likely to be playing with could have been imported from logging equipment was also a clue to their non-standard origin. I suspect having it as a non .xls file was most of the problem...