How format numbers resulting from 'math' formulas in WORD tables?

M

mkraft

How can I get 'table math' computations (i.e., numbers returned from
'formulas') in WORD tables to be formatted the way I want them to? -- e.g.,
to include a 'following zero' (e.g., 70.10 instead of 70.1) and commas in
thousands (6,863.63 instead of 6863.63) - ?

Thanks.
 
J

Jay Freedman

How can I get 'table math' computations (i.e., numbers returned from
'formulas') in WORD tables to be formatted the way I want them to? -- e.g.,
to include a 'following zero' (e.g., 70.10 instead of 70.1) and commas in
thousands (6,863.63 instead of 6863.63) - ?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Look at the help topic "Numeric Picture (\#) field switch". For the examples you
give, the field might look like

{= SUM(ABOVE) \# #,###.00}

Note: If you have regional settings that use a dot as the thousands separator
and a comma as the decimal point, they should also be swapped in the picture
switch.
 
M

mkraft

You need a "numeric picture switch." See this topic in help or
http://www.gmayor.com/formatting_word_fields.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks but that (the linked webpage) looks like pretty heavy-duty reading.
Isn't there a more simple way of selecting these options for number formats?
I mean, this is not anything arcane -- wanting 'thousands' numbers to include
commas, and 'decimal places' to display two numbers right of the decimal
point (even if the rightmost number is a zero).
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

I believe another poster provided the exact switch you need, which you can
also find in Word's Help file, as indicated. The basic switch information
(reproduced and edited from Word's Help) is at the bottom of Graham's
article. The Numeric Picture (\#) field switch is the one you want.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org
 
M

macropod

Hi Suzanne,

Perhaps the simplest construction that wiuld suit the OP's needs is somthing along the lines of:
{= SUM(ABOVE) \# ,0.00}

I agree, though, that learning how to use the formatting switches is better than simply taking whatever you're given without
bothering to understand it.
 
M

mkraft

I agree, though, that learning how to use the formatting switches is better
than simply taking > whatever you're given without bothering to understand it.

That's not really the point. This is word processing and a word processing
program should have certain features available in menus or submenus because
they are standard features of such programs. The user should not have to
construct formulas to do such simple and basic operations.
 
M

mkraft

Look at the help topic "Numeric Picture (\#) field switch". For the
examples you
give, the field might look like

{= SUM(ABOVE) \# #,###.00}
Click to expand...

Thanks. Why is there a space between the first two '#' characters?
 
M

mkraft

In addition to the helpful suggestions provided by Suzanne and Jay, you
might like to check out my Word Field Maths 'tutorial', at:
http://www.wopr.com/cgi-bin/w3t/showthreaded.pl?Number=365442
or
http://www.gmayor.com/downloads.htm#Third_party
In particular, look at the item titled 'Formatting Numeric Field Results'.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I wonder, though, what percentage of Word users would agree that it
should be necessary to navigate such tutorials in order to do the simple
things I inquired about.
 
M

macropod

Hi mkraft,

There are so many possible formatting options, any attempt to reproduce them via a menu would be a monster - and would likely not
address everyones' needs. At some stage, users neede to get used to the idea of going beyond the menus and explore Word's Help
file - which tells you how to go about formatting field results which, I might add, is something very few Word users ever need to
do.
 
M

macropod

Hi mkraft,

You didn't need to navigate a tutorial - all you needed to do was to use Word's Help file. The tutorial I referred you to is aimed
at those who need to go well beyond the basics.
 
M

macropod

Hi mkraft,

The '\#' tells Word what type of formatting switch it is dealing with. What follows after the space is the switch format.
 
D

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

Have you tried the "Number format:" drop down in the Formula dialog?

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP
 
D

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

All you had to do was use the "Number format:" dropdown on the Formula
dialog.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP
 
M

mkraft

All you had to do was use the "Number format:" dropdown on the Formula
dialog.
Click to expand...

So, the answer turns out to be a simple one.

Perhaps I didn't word my original inquiry clearly enough, as I don't
understand why it took so many replies (and more complex remedies, e.g.
'picture switches') to get to this simple solution.

I had looked for (and not found) a 'number format' option in the dropdown
menus, not having noticed it in the 'formula' dialog box. (Logically, a
'number format' needn't be tied to 'formulas' only -- i.e., it could apply to
all numeric entries.)

Thanks.
 
M

mkraft

You didn't need to navigate a tutorial - all you needed to do was to use
Word's Help file.

Is the Help file (I assume you're referring to the Help that comes with
Word) available at Microsoft's website?

I don't have access to the 'internal' help file because currently I only use
Word (& a PC) at a public library, which for some reason doesn't provide the
'Help' that comes with program.

If it's duplicated somewhere at microsoft.com I would definitely consult it
in the future before posting here.

Thanks.
 
M

macropod

Hi mkraft,

Yes, I was referring to the Help file that can be accessed via 'Help' on Word's menu.

If the installation you're working with lacks that, you can access an on-line resource, for all versions of MS Office from Office
2000 onwards, via:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/FX100485361033.aspx?pid=CL100605171033

For fields, you can access the help via:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/CH100992711033.aspx
and the page for formatting fields is:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA101004261033.aspx
These are for Word 2007, but they're essentially the same as for previous versions.
 

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