Import excel in JMP18

[#1]

Previously using JMP17, any import format of a column in excel would carry over the same format into JMP, but JMP18 is changing from numeric to character if there are any blank cells in that column.  Is there a setting in preferences I need to change?

[#2]

I don't think there are such settings. You might be able to change the format in the excel wizard

or better option in my opinion, change the data and modeling type AFTER you have imported the data into JMP table.

Edit: You can get information about the excel import from https://www.jmp.com/support/help/en/18.0/#page/jmp/preview-and-import-microsoft-excel-data.shtml# and there were changes in JMP18 https://community.jmp.com/t5/JMP-Knowledge-Base/Changes-to-the-import-of-Microsoft-Excel-files-in-JM...