I have some numbers on Excel that I want to divide by 1000.
What I do now is very time consuming. If the data is on col A then I put on col B the formula =A1/1000 and copy it downwards. Then I select column B and Copy, then go to Col A and Paste Special… and select Values.
Is there an easier way to do it?
Why are you doing the second stage? Why can’t you just use the results in column B. You could hide Column A if necessary.
Since you are already using a formula to do this, another formula would be equally time-consuming.
But I have a feeling that what is taking you a long time is copying down the formula and then the pasting. Try this: put the formula in the first cell of column B, just like now. Now put your cursor into the lower right of the cell until the arrow turns into a plus sign. Now double-click, and it will copy your formula all the way down to the last number in column A. If there are any spaces in the data in column A then it will stop at the first space.
To quickly copy into column A, go to the first cell in column B, then hit CTRL-SHIFT-down arrow. That will select the entire range of cells in column B. Then copy and paste like you do now.
Type 1000 into any cell. Select that cell and hit “Copy” or Ctrl-C.
Then highlight/select all of the cells that you want to divide by 1000. Now, see where the Paste button is on the top left? There’s a little downward pointing arrow there that you can click and bring up a drop down menu. On this menu, one of the items is “Paste Special” - click that button. A little box will come up with different radio buttons you can slect. Choose “divide” and then click on OK.
Presto.
You could also put 1,000 in a random cell and than copy that cell and paste special it to all of the desired cells using the / button on the paste special menu.
This sounds like you are dividing by 1000 then dividing that value by 1000 if i have this right
Step 1
____ A_________ B_________B (shown value)
3,000,000___=a1/1000_____3,000
Step 2 copy/paste special - value
____ A_________ B_________B (shown value)
3,000___=a1/100_______3
Why not just
____ A_________ B_________B (shown value)C_________C (shown value)
3,000,000=a1/1000____3,00___________=b1/1000______3
That way you could just copy all the formulas down without having to do the ‘copy/paste special - value’
Sorry for the underlin but multiple spaces just show as a space
If you’re having trouble selecting:
Copy b1
Click on a1
Hold ctrl and press down
Press right
Hold ctrl shift and press up
Ctrl v
Cool. I didn’t know about this one. This eliminates a couple of steps.
If your need to divide by 1,000 is just for display or printing purposes, an even easier way is to highlight the numbers in column A, right click, select “Format Cells”, select Custom, and put “0,” (without the quotes) in the Types box. This doesn’t change the actual value in the cell, but it will change how it is displayed and printed.
You know, I complain all the time (well, when it occurs to me) about people who look at their screen but don’t bother to read all the options. Unlike, of course, myself. 
… well… :o
Thanks for the tip! 