Tablora · Library
Leave a leading-zero identifier unchanged
The normalizer leaves an integer with leading zeros, like 000123, as text for review instead of turning it into 123. Here is what that signal means.
Why 000123 is not converted
A number written with leading zeros is almost always a code: an item number, a branch, a postal area or an employee ID. Converting 000123 to 123 would change its identity while looking like a harmless cleanup. The numeric normalizer therefore never converts an integer part that starts with 0 followed by another digit. The cell keeps its original text and is counted under Values left for review.
A single zero before the decimal mark is not affected. 0.50 converts normally; 00.50 is held, because it starts with two zeros.
The rule looks only at the digits before the decimal mark. A value of 0123.45 is held as well, while 123.45 and 0.45 convert. Grouped values are checked after the grouping separator is removed, so 0,123 under comma grouping is held too.
The 000123 example
With Decimal separator . and Grouping separator comma, the source value 000123 is kept as text for review. Converted cells does not include it, Values left for review counts it once, and the preview and Download (CSV) still show 000123. It is not changed to zero and not removed.
Reading the review count as a hint
- If most of the review items in a column are values with leading zeros, the column probably holds identifiers, not amounts. Choose a different Number column.
- If only one or two values in a real amount column are held, look at them in the source; a misplaced zero can come from a misreading or from a value typed by hand.
- Keep identifier columns out of totals altogether.
- When you need the exact characters in a spreadsheet, export the table with the text-safe XLSX converter instead of relying on the CSV download.
- Do not remove the zeros to make the value convert; you would be creating a new code.
- Look at the source format: a column of codes usually has a fixed number of digits, which amounts rarely do.
Same rule in the app's XLSX
The Tablora app follows a similar rule when it writes an XLSX from a photo or PDF. In a column it treats as numbers, a value that begins with 0 followed by a digit is written as text, so codes like 000123 and dates written as 06.02 keep their characters. Cells in that column that do convert become real numbers.
If a photo lost a zero, tap the cell, type the code with all of its zeros and press Save; a value you type that starts with 0 and a digit is still written as text.
Original synthetic example
- Source value
- 000123
- Decimal separator
- .
- Grouping separator
- ,
- Expected outcome
- Kept as text for review.