Long numbers converts from texts to scientific when copied from 2007 to 2003

Our shop is in transition from excel 2003 to 2007.  When we copy long numeric values from Excel 2007 into 2003 the data displays fine at first but when we format the data to text it displays as scientific.  How can I convert the data in 2003 to text and have it not display the scientific format?

How are the numbers formatted in XL2007?
Do the "long" numbers exceed 15 digits or have leading zeros?
How do you copy the data from xl2007 to xl2003?
How do you "convert" the data to text?
Why do you convert it?
Is the xl2003 worksheet formatted as Text at any part of the process?
'--
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA
http://www.mediafire.com/PrimitiveSoftware

The cells hare custom formatted.  But I've tried to convert this to Text and General in XL 2007 and I get the same result.  The number displays as scientific.  The length of the numbers are 18 digits and they do have leading zeros.  I believe the users are just highlighting the cells and cutting and pasting them from 2007 to 2003.  When I say convert, I mean choosing the cell format option.  The reason I am trying to convert the cells to text is to import the spreadsheet into SQL server(2000).  Even if I don;t convert the cells, once the spreadsheet gets imported into a table the data in the cells are automatically converted and displays as scientific.

Excel limits numbers to 15 digits (left of the decimal point).
Numbers with over 15 digits have the 16th digit and on converted to zeros.
Numbers in Excel do not retain leading zeros.

It sounds from your description that the "numbers" you have in Excel are text.
So the conversion issue appears to be in the transfer to the server.
I can't help with that.
'--
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA
Special Sort add-in (review)