Microsoft Office

Part IV
Using Advanced Excel Features
Preformatting Cells
Usually, you’ll apply number formats to cells that already contain values. You also can format cells with a
specific number format before you make an entry. Then, when you enter information, it takes on the format
that you specified. You can preformat specific cells, entire rows or columns, or even the entire worksheet.
Rather than preformat an entire worksheet, however, you can change the number format for the Normal style.
(Unless you specify otherwise, all cells use the Normal style.) Change the Normal style by displaying the Style
gallery. Choose Home ➪ Styles. Right-click the Normal style icon and choose Modify to display the Style dialog
box. In the Style dialog box, click the Format button and then choose the new number format that you
want to use for the Normal style.
If you want to apply cell formatting automatically (such as text or background color) based on
the cell’s contents, a much better solution is to use Excel’s Conditional Formatting feature.
Chapter 21 covers conditional formatting.
CROSS-REF
Custom number format codes
Table 24.3 lists the formatting codes available for custom formats, along with brief descriptions. I use most
of these codes in examples later in this chapter.
TABLE 24.3
Code
Codes Used to Create Custom Number Formats
Comments
General
Displays the number in General format.
# Digit placeholder. Displays only significant digits, and does not display insignificant zeros.
0 (zero) Digit placeholder. Displays insignificant zeros if a number has fewer digits than there are zeros
in the format.
? Digit placeholder. Adds spaces for insignificant zeros on either side of the decimal point so
that decimal points align when formatted with a fixed-width font. You can also use ? for
fractions that have varying numbers of digits.
. Decimal point.
% Percentage.
, Thousands separator.
E- E+ e- e+ Scientific notation
$ - + / ( ) : space Displays this character.
\ Displays the next character in the format.
* Repeats the next character, to fill the column width.
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