Numeric and string data in one field

[AlexSTeryx]

Hi Alteryx Community;

I've calculated a ranking with Alteryx. However I have also some entries that this not meet the thresholds and have, therefore, the entry "n.q." (for not qualified). 
So in the field rank I have the entries 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. but also some with  "n.q".

Currently I've formatted the field as string (otherwise Alteryx would not have accepted the entry "n.q.").
However, in my Excel output I would like to have the numbers formatted as number rather then as string. If I use a select tool to reset the field to Int16 Alteryx replaces all "n.q." entries with [null].

Is there a way that both formats - numeric and string -  are accepted? 

Thanks

Alex

[binuacs · Accepted solution]

@AlexSTeryx unlike excel Alteryx can keep one data type per column, since  you  have n.q in the Rank column the default datatype will be String, if you change that to int datatype the all the n.q values will be converted into NULL

[AlexSTeryx]

Thanks @binuacs for the quick reply.

Yes, this is the experience I made. So, I understand: no chance ... ☹️🤔