Why Does Excel Default to Scientific Freaking Notation

Question

When is the last time someone actually wanted Scientific Notation in their Spreadsheet?Why on earth does Excel default to Scientific Notation for all large numbers?How many errors can be attributed to Excel converting GTIN's, serial numbers, tracking numbers, event id's and worse into complete gibberish.Excel Team - What gives!?

bediger4000 · Accepted Answer

The one that bugs me is when ISO8601 format dates (yyyy-mm-dd) somehow mysteriously turn into floating point numbers.At least half of Excel usage happens because Word is so pitifully inadequate at formatting text in tables.

sp332 · Answer

Numbers in Excel are limited to 15 digits, no matter what notation. If you want a number-looking string yo be a string, you can quote it with a leading ' .

pestatije · Answer

> for all large numbersThere's your answer. Not every Excel user is in accounts

Why Does Excel Default to Scientific Freaking Notation

The one that bugs me is when ISO8601 format dates (yyyy-mm-dd) somehow mysteriously turn into floating point numbers.
At least half of Excel usage happens because Word is so pitifully inadequate at formatting text in tables.

Numbers in Excel are limited to 15 digits, no matter what notation. If you want a number-looking string yo be a string, you can quote it with a leading ' .

> for all large numbers
There's your answer. Not every Excel user is in accounts