Format Cells - Number
Cell numbers, alignment, or background color can be formatted through
the Format Cells dialog. To format
a cell, select the cells to be formatted (see Selecting
Worksheet Cells), and then click the Format
| Format Cells command or click the 
button.
Use the Number page to change
the numeric data display in the worksheet. Number formatting has no effect
on a numeric text string (numbers entered as text). For example, an ASCII
data file might contain the numbers "8123" (numbers surrounded
by quotes) which are read as text and not as a number. The Data
| Transform command can be used to perform a mathematical
function, such as ATOI(X), to convert a text string to an integer
value. Alternatively, the cell can be converted to numbers with the Data | Text to Number command.
Select the number format
options on the Number page
of
the Format
Cells dialog.
Type
The Type section contains the
numeric format for the selected cells. Available options are General,
Fixed, Exponential, Currency, Percent, and Date/Time.
Click on the desired option.
General
displays numbers as fixed or exponential, whichever is shorter.
Fixed
displays numbers as d.ddd. The number
to the left of the decimal can vary. Set the number to the right of
the decimal in the Decimal Digits
box.
Exponential
displays numbers as d.ddde+dd. Set the number of digits to the right
of the decimal in the Decimal Digits
box.
Currency
displays fixed numbers with a currency symbol such as the dollar sign
($).
Percent
displays numeric values (such as 0.13) as percentages with a percent
symbol suffix (13%).
Date/Time
formats the cells as date
and/or time. Select Date/Time
and then type or select the Date/Time
format.
Decimal Digits
The Decimal Digits controls
the number of digits to the right of the decimal when the Type
is set to Fixed, Exponential, Currency,
or Percent. To change the Decimal Digits, highlight the existing
value and type a new value. Alternatively, click the 
to increase or decrease the value.
Thousands Separator
The Thousands separator option
controls whether a comma appears in the number, indicating thousands.
When checked, a comma appears every three digits to the left of the decimal
point. When unchecked, the number appears without the comma. Do not type
a comma when entering data as this causes the number to be read as text.
Sample
The Sample
box displays the current number format.
Date/Time Format
When the Type is set to Date/Time, the Date/Time
format option becomes available. Type the desired format
into the Date/Time format field,
or click the 
button to insert a date/time format
with the Date/Time Format Builder
dialog. Available formats are made of combinations of day, month, year,
AD/BC or CE/BCE designation, hours, minutes, seconds, and AM/PM designation.
Days are shown as d or dd. Months are shown as M, MM, MMM, MMMM, or MMMMM.
Years are shown as yy or yyyy. Hours are shown as h or hh. Minutes are
shown as m or mm. Seconds are shown as ss. Sub-seconds are displayed as
ss.0 or ss.000. AM/PM designation are shown as tt or TT. BC/AD designation
is shown as gg or GG. BCE/CE designation is shown as g, ggg, G, or GGG.
Total elapsed time is shown as [h]. After clicking on the Date/Time
format, the Sample updates
to show a value in the selected format.
OK or Cancel
Click OK to make the
change to the cell format. Click Cancel
to return to the worksheet without making the change.
See Also
Format Cells