Formatting a number

To format a number:

  1. Select Cells in the Format menu (or right-click and select Format Cells).

  2. Select the Number tab in the "Format" dialog box.

  3. Select (for example) Number from the type list. The "Number" group box will appear.

  4. In the Decimal Places box, specify the precision of the number. You can have a minimum of none and a maximum of fourteen. (You can also use the increment precision button on the formatting toolbar - see Formatting numbers using the toolbar).

  5. Auto Precision automatically sets the precision of the number at the maximum of fifteen i.e. any number that has greater than fifteen digits (or fourteen decimal places in scientific form) will be rounded to fifteen significant digits.

  6. Select the Thousands With Commas checkbox for comma formatted numbers, i.e. whether to have 1,345,622 or 1345622. (You can also use the commas button on the formatting toolbar - see Formatting numbers using the toolbar).

  7. Select the Negatives In Brackets checkbox to enclose negative numbers in brackets, i.e. whether to have (123456) or -123456. (Surrounding negative numbers with brackets is a common practice in accountancy.)

  8. Select the Negatives In Red checkbox to display negative numbers in a red font.

  9. In the Trail/Lead String option you can choose to have either trailing or leading characters. Enter your text in the text box or choose from one of the existing group. You can create your own number formats, including alternative currency formats. Here are some examples:

2 lb.
2.2 Kg
1.2 $bn
FFr 23.56
DM 23.56

Note: Trailing and Leading text is managed in the Options dialog. You can add and delete entries here. See General options for more details.

A sample of the options you have chosen is given in the Preview box. When all is set, click on the OK button and the number will be formatted to your specification.

You can use a variety of number types, all of which are displayed in the list at the left. To format the appropriate type of number (e.g. Number, Currency, Fraction, etc.) click on it in the list. The settings displayed to the right of the list change according to your selection. The following sections give details on how to modify these settings for each type of number.

Note that the General option applies no special number formats.

See:

Number

Currency

Date

Time

Percentage

Fraction

Scientific

Boolean