How to use brackets instead of minus figure for showing defi

[mandikor]

How do I use the brackets instead of the minus figure to show loss in a financial worksheet using Office XP. Normally it owuld be in the format cells box but in XP it's not there.

 

[brindha_shree]

hi.
select the cell and choose format cells.
choose number and select numbers in bracket for negative numbers.i am also using windows xp...

Regards
Brindha
This message was edited by brindha_shree on 2002-10-16 03:49

 

[mandikor]

I have tried that but there is no bracket selection in Format cells. I don't know whether to add in it as a function. If i used custom it means I got to do that all the time. Any other thoughts about it.

 

[brindha_shree]

Hello..
i am not sure about that.
normally i will got to format cells>>choose number>>then got selection box down there to select the display for a negative number.i will choose the number in the brackets.and that's it.i think can write a formula for that but i am not so sure about it...
sorry can do much for u...

regards,
Brindha

 

[mandikor]

if you do decide to write a formula for that please do tell me, I have a user that needs this function.

 

[BigC]

mandikor
Click Format Cells and then select "Number" from the Category list and you should see the brackets option.
However, most annoyingly, I don't think Microsoft have yet woken up to, or fixed, the fundamental problem with this format - the digits of values in columns don't line up when there are negatives, as the closing bracket uses up the right hand character position.
To overcome this you must create a custom number format (select the number format most like the one you want, and then select Custom from the Category list, then edit the format in the Type box) so it looks like this:
#,##0_);[RED](#,##0);"-"_)
The digits will then line up, negatives will have brackets and be coloured red, and zero values will display as "-" [minus the "]

Also check out Creating Custom Formats in Excel's Help.

HTH
BigC

 

[mandikor]

Hi Big C

I will try that.
This is a cool message board!