Change format of result cell from Vlookup

[Celticfc]

Hi,

I've used a Vlookup and result is 35.10- (the minus sign is at the end of the number).
Now, I really need that number in brackets. If I change the result cell format to anything from date to currency etc, it has no effect. TEXT function is of no use either. Is it a bug or something?

I'm not looking to change the format of the original cell that I'm looking up - that needs to stay general format.

Thank you!

EDIT: I JUST FIGURED OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT MINUS SIGN IS AT THE END OF THE NUMBER, NOT BEGINNING. WHAT DO WE DO NOW? I STILL NEED IT IN BRACKETS, THANK YOU.

 

[Joe4]

No, my guess is that your entry is text and not numeric. Formatting does not work on text (strings), only valid numbers and dates.
So, you will need to convert that to a numeric value before you can apply numeric formatting options to it.

If it was a value in cell A1, here is a formula that will convert those text entries to numbers:

=IF(RIGHT(A1,1)="-",0-LEFT(A1,LEN(A1)-1),0+A1)

and then you can apply your desired numeric formatting.

 

[EveMLehar]

Can you tell me what appears in the Home ribbon in the Number block when you have your cursor on the cell with your 35.10- result?


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