[Solved] Need single quote to stay in cell

[calcykeef]

im using a program called drools which reads xls files
i need to put this in a cell of the spreadsheet 'gold'
but when i try it always removes the first quote
i tried double quotes but they cause errors with the drools parser
any help appreciated

[Villeroy]

Same as in Excel (old versions of it at least). The leading apostrophe marks literal text input. It allows you to enter the literal text =SUM(A1:A9) or 0123. The first won't be interpreted as formula, the second won't be interpreted as number. The leading apostrophe is not part of the text.

Two solutions:
1) Format the cells in question as text. Cells that have been prepared like this will take any new input literally.
2) Type 2 leading apostrophes. Only the second one will be part of the text.

[Lupp]

The single apostrophe is also used in Calc to suppress the "recognition" of numeric entries. I would suppose you stumbled upon a malfunction of the recognition process.
Set the 'Numbers' format code for the cells you need the leading Apostrophe in to

Code: Select all

@

. This will make Calc ignore the ambivalence of that character.

(BTW: In LibreOffice the issue is fixed.)

[calcykeef]

thanks both of you it works now