numbers (currency) don't line up on decimal

L

ljb

I am editing a worksheet someone else created. It's very simple - just a
bank statement-type sheet. The column with the numbers (format -
currency-right justified) all line up except one, which is off by a little
bit. What am I doing wrong? I've looked all through the formatting
possibilities.
Thanks
 
L

ljb

Thanks - that worked perfectly. Do you know why this would happen? I'm
curious to know what the setting was that was wrong. Thanks again.
 
F

Fred Smith

We can only guess since you haven't posted the format, buy my guess is you are
using parentheses to show a negative value. In this case, the positive values
need to leave room at the end of the number for all number to line up properly.
You will likely see _) at the end of your format -- this tells Excel to leave
room for the ) on positive numbers so your decimals will line up.

The format that doesn't line up didn't have the _) part.

If you would prefer a more accurate answer rather than just a guess, then post
the format.
 
L

ljb

How do I post the format?
It's definitely not a negative number - sometimes it happens with text, too.
For example, I have some text right justified that seems to align right
against the edge of the column. But some of it has a small space to the
right. So when you look at the column, the right edge doesn't line up. I'm
sure this is a simple setting - I just don't know where it is.
Thanks!
 
F

Fred Smith

Right-click on the cell, choose Format Cells..., choose Custom, and copy the
format in the Type: box. Then paste that to your message.

There is no formatting for text cells, so if they don't line up it has to be the
data. I suspect you have a space at the end of the non-aligning cell. Select the
cell, hit F2 and see where the cursor is. Is there an extra space at the end of
the data? If so, remove it.
 
G

Gord Dibben

Possibly Format>Cells>Alignment>Horizontal>Right Indent is set to 1

Numbers can also have this alignment.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
 
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