How to change the case of text in Excel (263580)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q263580

SUMMARY

This article describes how to use worksheet functions to change the case of text.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Excel has the following three worksheet functions that you can use to change text case:

LOWER - Converts all uppercase letters in a text string to lowercase.

UPPER - Converts all lowercase letters in a text string to uppercase.

PROPER - Capitalizes the first letter in a text string and any other letters in text that follow any character other than a letter. Converts all other letters to lowercase letters.

By using these functions, you can change the case of existing text in a worksheet. Consider the following example.

Type the following values in a worksheet: 
   A1: ABCD
   A2: EFGH
   A3: IJKL
   A4: MNOP
   A5: QRST
   A6: UVWX
   A7: YZ
To make these cells lowercase, follow these steps:
  1. Insert a column to the right of column A by selecting column B and clicking Columns on the Insert menu.
  2. Type the following formula in cell B1:

    =LOWER(A1)

  3. In column B, select all the cells to the right of the cells that contain data in column A.
  4. On the Edit menu, point to Fill, and then click Down.

    The new column now contains the lowercase version of the text in column A.
  5. With the same range selected, click Copy on the Edit menu.
  6. Select cell A1, and click Paste Special on the Edit menu. Under Paste, click Values, and click OK to paste the converted values back on top of column A.
  7. Delete column B by selecting the column and clicking Delete on the Edit menu.
The text that was in column A is now in lowercase: 
   A1: abcd
   A2: efgh
   A3: ijkl
   A4: mnop
   A5: qrst
   A6: uvwx
   A7: yz

REFERENCES

For more information about Excel text functions, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type text case in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/28/2004
Keywords:kbformat kbconversion kbhowto KB263580
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