Sum - show negative number?

[Steve]

If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the
sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's
actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior?

 

[Govind]

Hi,

Are you talking about the sum in the status bar. It does display the sum
as negative number as well.

Govind

 

[Steve]

Are you talking about the sum in the status bar. It does display the sum
as negative number as well.

Yep, the status bar. As an example, entered -600 in one cell and +500
in the next. The status bar says Sum=100.

Just played around with this a bit - apparently Excel does not
recognize numbers in red as negative, unless they're also in
parentheses - in spite of the fact that cell formatting provides the
option of unadorned red numbers to indicate negatives. This must be
some sorta bug?

 

[Bob Phillips]

Excel does not per se recognise any format as negative numbers, it
recognises negative numbers by the fact that they are less than 0, either
entered as less than zero, or as a result of a calculation. Red, and/or
parentheses are just a way of showing a number in the visual presentation of
that cell. You could just as easily format positive numbers with parentheses
as you could negative numbers.

--

HTH

RP
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

 

[Ken Wright]

Not really, if you have your values showing as red with no negative sign
that is a conscious choice you have made when selecting the formats for
those cells and Excel respects it. Why would you then expect Excel to put a
negative sign in when using the status bar. If you make your format such
that it has a negative sign as well as being red then Excel will provide a
negative sign in the status bar. Your problem stems from the fact that the
status bar does not have the facility to show a red font.

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

------------------------------­------------------------------­----------------
It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
------------------------------­------------------------------­----------------

 

[Steve]

Excel does not per se recognise any format as negative numbers, it
recognises negative numbers by the fact that they are less than 0, either
entered as less than zero, or as a result of a calculation. Red, and/or
parentheses are just a way of showing a number in the visual presentation of
that cell.

That makes perfect sense - so it must mean that Excel is not capable
of showing the color red in the status line? And therefore, without
formatting the cell to include the minus sign or parentheses, there's
no way to tell whether the Sum is positive or negative?

 

[Steve]

Not really, if you have your values showing as red with no negative sign
that is a conscious choice you have made when selecting the formats for
those cells and Excel respects it. Why would you then expect Excel to put a
negative sign in when using the status bar. If you make your format such
that it has a negative sign as well as being red then Excel will provide a
negative sign in the status bar. Your problem stems from the fact that the
status bar does not have the facility to show a red font.

Ok, thanks, that explains it (posted my last message before I saw this
explanation). Of course, it would be nice if there was some kinda
warning or explanation when choosing that cell format option. And
even better if the status bar was capable of showing the color red.

 

[Steve]

Ok, thanks, that explains it (posted my last message before I saw this
explanation). Of course, it would be nice if there was some kinda
warning or explanation when choosing that cell format option. And
even better if the status bar was capable of showing the color red.

One reason I like to use plain red is that it makes the numbers easier
to read, without the parentheses. A second-best option would be red
with a negative sign. But that doesn't appear to be possible...

 

[RagDyer]

You can create a custom format to show almost *anything* you want.

Custom format for red and minus sign:

#,##0.00;[Red]-#,##0.00

And of course, you could add the parenthesis also:

#,##0.00_);[Red](-#,##0.00)
--
HTH,

RD
==============================================
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
==============================================

 

[Steve]

You can create a custom format to show almost *anything* you want.
Custom format for red and minus sign:
#,##0.00;[Red]-#,##0.00
And of course, you could add the parenthesis also:
#,##0.00_);[Red](-#,##0.00)

Thanks, I'll give those a try. What I'd really like to be able to
customize is the status bar, to show the color red or use the minus
sign even though I haven't used it in the cells...

 

[Ken Wright]

Personally I would never do that. I work in finance and can just imagine
the havoc that would cause when people print out in black and white, as
tables would appear not to add up etc because you wouldn't see the red.

Regards
Ken...................

 

[Dave Peterson]

If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format),
then the statusbar showed the sum in general format.

Maybe you could try it as a workaround.

 

[Steve]

Personally I would never do that. I work in finance and can just imagine
the havoc that would cause when people print out in black and white, as
tables would appear not to add up etc because you wouldn't see the red.

Good point. But I have no need to print the spreadsheets, and it
makes for easier screen viewing.

 

[Steve]

If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format),
then the statusbar showed the sum in general format.
Maybe you could try it as a workaround.

Sounds good, but I just tried it, and there was no change in the
status bar sum. Must be doing something wrong...

 

[Bob Phillips]

I really don't know where you come up with them from <g>

Bob

 

[RagDyer]

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to more or less have the "best of
both worlds", where you can have YOUR "easy to see red", and still follow
convention, and include the minus and/or parenthesis.

 

[Steve]

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to more or less have the "best of
both worlds", where you can have YOUR "easy to see red", and still follow
convention, and include the minus and/or parenthesis.

Well, the numbers are certainly easier to read without the
parentheses. I guess the minus sign would be ok though...

 

[Dave Peterson]

I just tried it again (I use xl2003) and when I hit that ctrl-click on the empty
cell, the number on the statusbar changed from 2 to -2 (it was negative all the
time).

 

[Dave Peterson]

Thanks, er, I think. <vbg>

I really don't know where you come up with them from <g>

Bob

 

[Bob Phillips]

It's a compliment. Off the wall thinking <bg>

Bob