By default, text is left-aligned and numbers are right-aligned in Excel. Atimes user enter inverted comma before inputting data values in a cell which automatically converts a number to text. This example teaches you how to convert ‘text strings that represent numbers’ to numbers. 1. Select the range A1:A4 and change the number format to General. 2. Numbers preceded by an apostrophe are also treated…
Tag: Custom Number Format
Currency vs Accounting Format in Excel
The Currency format and the Accounting format in Excel are very similar to each other. This example shows the difference. 1. Enter the following values. 2. The Currency format places the dollar sign right next to the number. 3. The Accounting format aligns the dollar signs at the left edge of the cell and displays a dash for zero values. Note: the Currency format can display…
Change Fractions Format in Excel
Excel always reduces fractions to its smallest denominator. This example teaches you how to enter a fraction in Excel and how change the format of a fraction. 1. To enter the mixed fraction 1 4/7 (one and four sevenths), type 1 4/7. To enter the fraction 4/7 (four sevenths) into cell A1, select cell A1 and type 0 4/7 (with a 0…
Convert Numbers to Text in Excel
By default, numbers are right-aligned and text is left-aligned in Excel. This example teaches you how to convert numbers to ‘text strings that represent numbers’. 1. Select the range A1:A4 and change the number format to Text. 2. Precede a number by an apostrophe and it will also be treated as text. 3a. If you add text to a number and still want to format this…
Number Decimal Places in Excel
Learn how to show fewer decimal places in Excel without changing the number itself. You can also round a number. 1. Enter the value 2.175 into cell A1. 2. On the Home tab, in the Number group, click the Decrease Decimal button twice. Result: Note: if you look at the formula bar, you can see that cell A1 still contains the value 2.175. 3. We can…
Advanced Number Formats in Excel
Excel has many built-in formats. You can select standard number formats such as General, Number, Currency, Accounting, Short Date, Long Date, Time, Percentage, Fraction, Scientific, Text on the home tab of the ribbon using the Number Format menu. If you cannot find the right format, you can create a custom number format. N/B: A custom number format is stored in the…
Excel Custom Number Format with Leading Zeros, Add Text, Colors Example
Beyond the built-in options: custom formatting The Format Cells dialog offers so many options available “out-of-the-box.” The available format category and type options go far beyond the basics. But, if what is available still doesn’t meet your requirements, you can always create a custom format. Let’s consider a set of numbers. We start by opening the Format Cells dialog box as we did…