Numbers

Excel permits us to modify the way in which numbers are seen in the cell. Follow these steps:

Select the cell range that we want modify the aspect of.

Select the Format menu.

Select the Cells... option

Click on the Number tab.

The box on the right will appear.

Select the desired option from the Category box:

Click on OK.

When selecting any option, an example of how it will appear is shown in the Sample box.

We will next explain the various options in the Category: box, a category is selected from the list depending on the value introduced in the cell. The most commonly used categories are:

General: The exact value introduced is shown in the cell. This is the format that Excel uses by defect. This format allows integers, decimals, and numbers in exponential form if the cipher is not complete in the cell.

Number: Contains a series of options that permit us to specify the number of decimals, and also allow us to specify the thousand separator and the way of visualizing negative numbers.

Currency: Is similar to the Numbers category, and allows us to specify the amount of decimals, the monetary symbol can be picked (eg €) as well as the way in which negatives are visualized.

Accounting: Defers the currency format in that it aligns the monetary symbols and the decimal commas in the column.

Date: Contains numbers which represent dates and times, like date values. We can pick from different date formats.

Time: Contains numbers that represent hour values. You can pick from different hour formats.

Percentage: Visualize the numbers as percentages. The value in the cell is multiplied by 100 and assigned a % sign, eg a percentage format without decimals will show 0,1524 as 15%, and with 2 decimals will be shown as 15,24%.

Fraction: Permits us to pick from new fraction formats.

Scientific: Shows the cell value in inverted commas. We can pick the number of decimals.

Text: The cells with text format are treated as text, including if a number is found in the text.

Special: Contains some special formats, like the postal code, telephone number, etc.

Custom: Here we can create a new format, indicating the format code.

In the Format toolbar we have a series of buttons availible that permit us to modify the format of the numbers in a quicker manner .

So that the selected cells have a $ symbol and 2 decimals.

To assign the percentage format (multiplies the number by 100 and adds a % sign).

To use the accounting format (with a thousand seperater and a change in alignment).

To remove a decimal from the numbers introduced in the selected cells.

To add a decimal from the numbers introduced in the selected cells.

You can practice theses operations with the Number format exercise.

If you want information on the Protect tab of the format cells:

Before starting with the exercises you can practice by completing the Cell format exercise.

  Theme 6 exercise.

  Theme 6 theory evaluation test.

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