MacXL: How to Convert a List to Text (302622)

MORE INFORMATION

If you type information that Excel interprets as a list, Excel asks whether you want to convert the text to a list. If you click Yes, Excel automatically converts the text.

If you click Yes in error, or if you change your mind, you can convert the list back to text by following these steps:

1. In Excel, click a cell in the list.
2. On the List toolbar, click Remove List Manager under List.
   
   NOTE: If you see Convert To Range instead of Remove List Manager, you must install the Microsoft Office 2001 Service Release 1 Updater, which is available at the following Microsoft Web site:

   http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.aspx?pid=download&location=/mac/download/office2001/update_905.xml&secid=10&ssid=25&flgnosysreq=True

3. When you are prompted, click OK.

The List Manager feature provides database-like features that make it easy to work with data.

• Data validation allows you to specify the type of data that can be added to each field. For example, you can keep a field from accepting text if that field is to contain only numbers.
• Conditional formatting allows you to apply formatting, for example color or bold formatting, to values that meet certain criteria.
• Filter arrows at the top of all the column headings and a row for new records at the bottom of the list make it easier to search and to add data to a list.

Together, the data and all of the List Manager features are called a list object. You can create a new list object or convert existing worksheet data into a list object by clicking List on the Insert menu.

Excel provides visual clues so that you can tell that you are working in a list object: The list has a blue border, column headings have filter arrows, and the List toolbar appears.