[Solved] Keeps changing value to a date format

[tom182]

I have a large spreadsheet of geo points I need to import into a cad program but for some reason OO Calc keeps changing value to a date format, i.e. in one column I SHOULD have the following "1-0000", "1-0001", "1-0002" , "1-0003" ...... , "1-0019"
but it writes these as "01/01/01" , "01/01/02" , "01/01/03" , "01/01/04" , ........
Please how do i stop seeing it a a date and revert it back to the way it should be , i have clicked on cells and format Cell> changed it to number but this does not work and it just keeps writing it as a date,
so frustrating,
would appreciate any insight to what I am doing wrong
Thanks
T

[Villeroy]

Same problem since 30 years. Clueless use of spreadsheets. Why do you use a spreadsheet without learning the most fundamental basics? Store that shit in plain text files.

[MrProgrammer]

[Calc changes] "1-0001", "1-0002", "1-0003" [to] "01/01/01" , "01/01/02" , "01/01/03" …. Please how do i stop seeing it a a date?

If you are typing the geo points, read section 5. Understanding data entry in Ten concepts that every Calc user should know. Note especially the 3rd sentence in that paragraph.

If you are importing the geo points from a text file, say CSV format, into Calc read [Tutorial] Text to Columns, especially the sentence "Text means …".

so frustrating, would appreciate any insight to what I am doing wrong

You will find using Calc less frustrating if you read the entire tutorial. It covers many important fundamentals that will help you use spreadsheets effectively.

If this solved your problem please go to your first post use the Edit button and add [Solved] to the start of the subject field. Select the green checkmark icon at the same time.

[Villeroy]

This is a hopeless effort. Now the scientific community is going to rename genes because of all these idiots. https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/6/21355 ... ding-dates