How can I get Excel to accurately calculate with really huge numbers (over 15 digits long)?

Question

In Excel 2003, using Windows XP, if I input a number over 15 digits long, it always truncates that number.

i.e. if I enter "95465321597895592158" as a number, Excel only enters the following, "95465321597895500000".

However, I need to do some accurate calculations with numbers in excess of 15 digits...

For example: 526632145963546843 - 526632145962315821

When inputting this into Excel, it yields 1230976

However, the correct answer to this problem is easily done by hand to yield 1231022.

So my question is, how can I get Excel to accurately deal with these numbers that are over 15 digits? Is it even possible?

I know it may seem absurd to be dealing with such large numbers, but anybody that can help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
yachadhoo

Answer 1

Use Precision Calc's "inspector text" (IT).

http://precisioncalc.com/it/free.html

You can pay for the full version or use the free one. The free one can be annoying if you keep Excel open for long times. Each time you use a feature of IT you have to type in a string they give you, it gets longer every time until you restart Excel. But it is an excellent application.

Answer 2

Look at the shareware site below