Keeping Data in line when using brackets

[litttlelisa]

Hi

I would like to know how I can keep numerical data in line when using with brackets and without brackets. When I use brackets the figure don't stay in line with the figures without brackets - I know there is a simple solution just not sure what. Any help would be appreciated.

[Aardigspook]

Welcome to the forum.

I assume you're talking about having brackets around negative numbers? If that's the case, you can use an underscore plus bracket in your number format. Click 'Format Cells' (Format button on the Home tab) and select the 'Number' tab. Click 'Custom' on the left-hand side, then enter a number format something like this:
#.00_);(#.00);0.00_);@

Number formats are arranged like this: positive numbers format ; negative numbers format ; zero format ; text format. So the format above will format numbers like this:
Positive: 1.23
Negative: (1.23)
Zero: 0.00
Text: as entered (that's what the @ means).

Crucially, the _) part of the positive and zero bits of the format tells excel to put a space the width of a ) to the right of the number.
So you get:

 1.23
(1.23)
 0.00
text

You can read more on number formats here: https://support.office.com/en-gb/art...2-09fab54be7f4