excel get leading number code example

Example 1: excel add leading zeros to existing values

'Three ways to left-pad an existing value with zeros:

'1.) Number Format
Select Cell Range-->Format Cells-->Number-->Custom-->00000
'Use this when it is important to keep the actual values numeric but
'you need padded zeros for display.


'2.) Worksheet Formula:
=TEXT(A1,"00000")
'Use this when it is important to change the actual values to text.


'3.) VBA Function
Function Pad(s$, Optional padChr = "0", Optional num = 5)
    Pad = String(num - Len(s), padChr) & s
End Function
'Use this when it is important to change the actual values to text.

Example 2: excel set n number of digits in cell or column

Right click on the column-> format cells -> number -> custom. 
Choose the 0 type and put n zeros in the entry box (for n numbers).
click okay. All numbers entered will be n digits.

example :  type: 00000
all number will have 5 digits :  00004, 03452,00876,45627 etc