Text and numbers are shown as General in excel 2010

[Franky]

Hello,

When I enter a text into a cell, say "Programming" or a number, say "12.543", Excel shows each one as general instead of a text or number! Why please?

What text or number I need to enter into a cell that Excel shows and treats it as number or text?

 

[Ranger4]

To set the actual formatting of each cell you need to select from the General drop down menu.
The screen shot below shows where to find this. There are a lot of options here for cell formatting. This screen shot is from Excel 2013, but I think Excel 2010 is the sane.

 

[Franky]

Excuse me! I asked about the way MS Excel itself recognizes the format. I know by using that list how to apply the formats
I say, for example, when I enter "21-3-2014", Excel immediately recognizes it and shows it as date in General menu. What about texts and numbers? That is, for example, what text I need to enter into a cell so that Excel itself immediately (like date) recognizes it and shows it as "text" in General menu?