Replace specific characters in excel column

Questions & Suggestions
1

I want to select a column in excel and replace first and last characters "(" and ")" with leading minus sign only. Any ideas?

Tried following, see pic but does not work.

Screen Shot 2015-11-14 at 00.14.33.png714×346 28.5 KB

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Michael

2

Do the characters "(" and ")" appear as actual cell contents, or due to Excel formatting?

Excel uses cell formatting to display negative numbers in parentheses. So the actual contents of the cell does not contain either "(" nor ")".
If that is the case, a search and replace won't work.

If you actually have characters "(" and ")" as cell contents then I'd use Excel Replace function. If this will be a recurring need, record an Excel macro.

3

Actual cell contents so will take your advice and create a macro to use Excel Replace function. Just thought I would post in case another easier method.

Thanks for feedback.

Michael