( ) instead of -

[xlouisedoll]

Right this is probably going to sound really silly..but I'm not very good
with Excel. Basically..I'm an accounting student and for one of my classes
I've got to produce a balance sheet etc etc. but I'm having problems with the
formatting of my cells for negative numbers. Basically rather than them
showing up as a - (say -2) I want brackets around the number (2), but
whenever I try and do this..it just converts to -2...any ideas on how I get
it to stay as (2) without changing the format of the cells to just text? i.e.
so it still means negative 2?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[muddan madhu]

select the cell | go to format | cells | number tab | category :
number | decimal places :0 | choose negative format (1234) | ok |

 

[~L]

Highlight the cells you want to change and hit CTRL+1. On the menu that pops
up, choose 'Number' from the left, then on the right you'll see the format
you want in a list.

 

[Bernard Liengme]

With a cell that is displaying something like (-23.78) as you active cell:
Use format | Cell and open the customise tab and you see you have something
like
#,##0.00;(-#,##0.00)
Edit this to read
#,##0.00;(#,##0.00) ' I have deleted the negative sign
Use this cell with Format Painter (look like paint brush) to format another
cells
best wishes

 

[Gord Dibben]

If negative brackets are not available in the Number>Negative Numbers or
Currency dialog.

This is a function of your Regional Settings in Windows OS.

Start>Settings>Control Panel>Regional and Language Settings>Regional
Options>Customize>Currency>Negative Currency Format. Click on drop-down
arrow and select the ($1.1)

Note: this is under the "Currency" tab in Regional Options. Changing under
the "Numbers" tab only does not do the trick.

Apply and OK>Apply your way out.


Gord Dibben Excel MVP