title: Google Sheets not recognizing number (sometimes)
body: <p>I have a sheet that takes in an encoded string (Base64), decodes it, and displays it in a readable format. I have just recently come across an issue where it does not properly recognize a number, but only sometimes. The issue appears to be very inconsistent, and I have not been able to pin down why it is happening. I have researched this extensively at this point, but have come to no resolution.</p>
  <p>Below are some examples of what is happening.</p>
  <hr />
  <p>This is an example of a working situation. The number boxed in red is the cell (and only cell) that has been giving me issues. In this example, it is correctly recognized as a number, and treated as such. That number is a result of a split formula being performed on cell <code>F6</code> (the one with the visible header &quot;cookie&quot;).</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/pP5sK.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/pP5sK.png" alt="Working example" /></a></p>
  <hr />
  <p>This is an example of a broken situation. The number boxed in red is the same cell as the previous image, but parsed from a different inputted Base64 string. This cell is <em>not</em> being treated as a number, but for no apparent reason.</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Zsxp7.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Zsxp7.png" alt="not working" /></a></p>
  <hr />
  <p>Below is the data in cell <code>F6</code> for the first and second images above, respectively. This string is split by semicolon. The problem is caused by the second number in the string. Arrows (<code>&gt;&gt;&lt;&lt;</code>) have been added by me in order to clarify the position of these numbers.</p>
  <ul>
  <li><p>Works: <code>159149865299613.8;&gt;&gt;5793819823521370&lt;&lt;;10338;125;267962864851035.03;3488;0;0;0;0;0;0;66;52081;0;125;0;0;0;0;0;0;;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;-1;-1;-1;-1;-1;0;0;0;0;50;0;0;1;20;1655298213526;0;0;;41;0;0;37459253051.48866;50;</code></p>
  </li>
  <li><p>Does not work: <code>1705503446625.7646;&gt;&gt;7977823485117074&lt;&lt;;10364;130;268041654659599.25;3733;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;-1;0;130;0;0;0;0;0;0;;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;-1;-1;-1;-1;-1;0;0;0;0;50;0;0;2;21;1655384614318;0;0;;41;0;0;48530698632.17037;50;</code></p>
  </li>
  </ul>
  <hr />
  <p><strong>Every other number in this sheet is recognized as a number and functions properly.</strong></p>
  <hr />
  <p>Below is a link to view this exact spreadsheet. Upon making a copy of the sheet, you can view the different values by copying the Save Code from the <code>SaveData</code> sheet (column A) and pasting them in the box in the Main sheet (make sure to paste values only, and not formatting).</p>
  <p><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lk9gjNsNSn1HD_CcvKLuZ9Bg8QIWnslBZxj4oQR5Zmc/edit?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This Sheet</a></p>
  <h6>There are a few App Scripts running in this sheet, and while I don't believe those are the issue since it's breaking before they are even run, I included the tag anyway just in case there is something simple I have missed.</h6>