This document discusses how Excel removes leading zeros from zip codes by default and provides steps to format cells as zip codes to retain the leading zeros. It explains that a leading zero is a zero at the beginning of a number, but not after a decimal point, and gives examples of zip codes with leading zeros. It then demonstrates formatting a cell containing the zip code 02181 as a zip code to keep the initial zero.

1. Week 4 – Discussion 2:
Worked Examples
Suzanne Sannwald
Ashford University
Technology Solutions for JIT Training & Learning
EDU 656
Dr. Kris Jamsa
July 18, 2013

2. Zip Codes with Leading Zeroes
By default, Excel automatically removes leading 0s.
What is a “leading zero”?
• A zero that is at the beginning of a number, but not if
the zero is after a decimal point.
Examples:
00501
01970
02181
What do all of these
examples have in common?
They are zip codes!

3. Example: Step 1
Type the following zip code in a new Excel document:
02181

4. Example: Step 2
When clicking Enter, what happens to the leading 0?
When working with zip codes, we need the leading 0!

5. Example: Step 3
Select/highlight the
cell with the zip code
Right-click to bring up
the contextual menu
Select Format Cells…

6. Example: Step 4
On the
Number tab, select
Category = Special
For Type,
select Zip Code
Click OK

7. Example: Step 5
What is back?
The leading zero in our zip code!