PHP Excel - Correct format for strings / numbers beginning with zero?

Question

Hi, I'm trying to use PHP to create a file containing a list of phone numbers. It's working OK however if the phone number begins with zero, the digit is dropped from the excel file.

Does anyone know how to set the formatting correctly so that it remains in place?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Set the type to string explicitly:

$type = PHPExcel_Cell_DataType::TYPE_STRING;
$sheet->getCellByColumnAndRow($column, $rowno)->setValueExplicit($value, $type);

Answer 2

Either:

// Set the value explicitly as a string
$objPHPExcel->getActiveSheet()->setCellValueExplicit('A1', '0029', PHPExcel_Cell_DataType::TYPE_STRING);

or

// Set the value as a number formatted with leading zeroes
$objPHPExcel->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('A3', 29);
$objPHPExcel->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A3')->getNumberFormat()->setFormatCode('0000');