Negative Numbers in Brackets - HELP!

Hi,

I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
brackets.

I have Windows XP, Office 2003.

Please help me...

Thanks.

Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any aligment,
are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
text
you can also try

=ISTEXT(cell)

if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select the
numbers
and do paste special and select add.

--

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

"Hélène" <Hlne@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4C3A1FB3-9B6B-4D40-A487-169A39395F28@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate.
The
> regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show
in
> brackets.
>
> I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
>
> Please help me...
>
> Thanks.
>

Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.

I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all, except
for the "unregister/register", etc.

Could it be a bug?



"Peo Sjoblom" wrote:

> Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any aligment,
> are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> text
> you can also try
>
> =ISTEXT(cell)
>
> if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select the
> numbers
> and do paste special and select add.
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Peo Sjoblom
>
> "Hélène" <Hlne@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4C3A1FB3-9B6B-4D40-A487-169A39395F28@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate.
> The
> > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show
> in
> > brackets.
> >
> > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> >
> > Please help me...
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
>
>
>

Put -10 in a cell, select the cell, do format>cells>number>custom and use

General;(General)

what happens?

--

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom


"Hélène" <Hlne@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F7AB4283-BFC0-4826-9601-C5D44DDCE1C4@microsoft.com...
> Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
> alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.
>
> I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all,
except
> for the "unregister/register", etc.
>
> Could it be a bug?
>
>
>
> "Peo Sjoblom" wrote:
>
> > Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any
aligment,
> > are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> > text
> > you can also try
> >
> > =ISTEXT(cell)
> >
> > if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select
the
> > numbers
> > and do paste special and select add.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Peo Sjoblom
> >
> > "Hélène" <Hlne@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:4C3A1FB3-9B6B-4D40-A487-169A39395F28@microsoft.com...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get
my
> > > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am
desparate.
> > The
> > > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets
but
> > > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to
show
> > in
> > > brackets.
> > >
> > > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> > >
> > > Please help me...
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> >
> >
> >

Hi Helene,

A couple of questions:

(a) I take it that right now negative numbers show up as if they were
positive, e.g., minus 35 shows up on your worksheet as "35." Correct?

(b) In Control Panel did you change the regional setting for numbers, for
currency, or for both?

Regards,

Batara

"Hélène" wrote:

> Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
> alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.
>
> I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all, except
> for the "unregister/register", etc.
>
> Could it be a bug?
>
>
>
> "Peo Sjoblom" wrote:
>
> > Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any aligment,
> > are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> > text
> > you can also try
> >
> > =ISTEXT(cell)
> >
> > if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select the
> > numbers
> > and do paste special and select add.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Peo Sjoblom
> >
> > "Hélène" <Hlne@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:4C3A1FB3-9B6B-4D40-A487-169A39395F28@microsoft.com...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate.
> > The
> > > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show
> > in
> > > brackets.
> > >
> > > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> > >
> > > Please help me...
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> >
> >
> >

Batara,

a) No the number shows as -10.
b) I changed both.

;0(


"Batara" wrote:

> Hi Helene,
>
> A couple of questions:
>
> (a) I take it that right now negative numbers show up as if they were
> positive, e.g., minus 35 shows up on your worksheet as "35." Correct?
>
> (b) In Control Panel did you change the regional setting for numbers, for
> currency, or for both?
>
> Regards,
>
> Batara
>
> "Hélène" wrote:
>
> > Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
> > alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.
> >
> > I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all, except
> > for the "unregister/register", etc.
> >
> > Could it be a bug?
> >
> >
> >
> > "Peo Sjoblom" wrote:
> >
> > > Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any aligment,
> > > are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> > > text
> > > you can also try
> > >
> > > =ISTEXT(cell)
> > >
> > > if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select the
> > > numbers
> > > and do paste special and select add.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Peo Sjoblom
> > >
> > > "Hélène" <Hlne@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:4C3A1FB3-9B6B-4D40-A487-169A39395F28@microsoft.com...
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > > > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate.
> > > The
> > > > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > > > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show
> > > in
> > > > brackets.
> > > >
> > > > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> > > >
> > > > Please help me...
> > > >
> > > > Thanks.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >

I did as suggested and nothing happens, i.e., the format stays at -10.



"Peo Sjoblom" wrote:

> Put -10 in a cell, select the cell, do format>cells>number>custom and use
>
> General;(General)
>
> what happens?
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Peo Sjoblom
>
>
> "Hélène" <Hlne@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:F7AB4283-BFC0-4826-9601-C5D44DDCE1C4@microsoft.com...
> > Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
> > alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.
> >
> > I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all,
> except
> > for the "unregister/register", etc.
> >
> > Could it be a bug?
> >
> >
> >
> > "Peo Sjoblom" wrote:
> >
> > > Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any
> aligment,
> > > are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> > > text
> > > you can also try
> > >
> > > =ISTEXT(cell)
> > >
> > > if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select
> the
> > > numbers
> > > and do paste special and select add.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Peo Sjoblom
> > >
> > > "Hélène" <Hlne@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:4C3A1FB3-9B6B-4D40-A487-169A39395F28@microsoft.com...
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get
> my
> > > > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am
> desparate.
> > > The
> > > > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets
> but
> > > > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to
> show
> > > in
> > > > brackets.
> > > >
> > > > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> > > >
> > > > Please help me...
> > > >
> > > > Thanks.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>

Hélène wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
> regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
> brackets.
>
> I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
>
> Please help me...
>
> Thanks.
>
Excel does NOT use the windows regional setting! (ANOTHER example of MS
not doing joined-up thinking - Lotus DOES however, but that's not an MS
product is it?). You have to use Custom Formatting.

--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Oh! Well, this is the first time I read this although, in this case, it
makes perfect sense... However, many times, on this site, the suggestion to
change the Windows settings was made. Interesting...

Well, in any case, I cannot find a way to force the custom formatting to
display negative numbers in brackets (no decimals, simple numbers).

Hélène

"Gordon" wrote:

> Hélène wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
> > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
> > brackets.
> >
> > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> >
> > Please help me...
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> Excel does NOT use the windows regional setting! (ANOTHER example of MS
> not doing joined-up thinking - Lotus DOES however, but that's not an MS
> product is it?). You have to use Custom Formatting.
>
> --
> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
> Gordon Burgess-Parker
> Director
> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk
>

Gordon, it seems that you were right after all. Windows settings have
nothing to do with this. Here's the solution: Go to Format, Style, Number
and apply this format: _ * # ##0_);_ * (# ##0);_ * "- "_);_ @_ .

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions.

Hélène

"Gordon" wrote:

> Hélène wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
> > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
> > brackets.
> >
> > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> >
> > Please help me...
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> Excel does NOT use the windows regional setting! (ANOTHER example of MS
> not doing joined-up thinking - Lotus DOES however, but that's not an MS
> product is it?). You have to use Custom Formatting.
>
> --
> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
> Gordon Burgess-Parker
> Director
> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk
>

Helene

Gordon is not correct.

Windows Regional Settings control Excel's default number formatting.

Make the changes in Regional Settings to bracketed numbers and currency.

Excel must be closed and re-opened for changes to be seen in Excel.


Gord Dibben Excel MVP

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 07:53:13 -0800, "Hélène" <Hlne@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>Gordon, it seems that you were right after all. Windows settings have
>nothing to do with this. Here's the solution: Go to Format, Style, Number
>and apply this format: _ * # ##0_);_ * (# ##0);_ * "- "_);_ @_ .
>
>Thank you everyone for all your suggestions.
>
>Hélène
>
>"Gordon" wrote:
>
>> Hélène wrote:
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
>> > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
>> > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
>> > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
>> > brackets.
>> >
>> > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
>> >
>> > Please help me...
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> >
>> Excel does NOT use the windows regional setting! (ANOTHER example of MS
>> not doing joined-up thinking - Lotus DOES however, but that's not an MS
>> product is it?). You have to use Custom Formatting.
>>
>> --
>> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
>> Gordon Burgess-Parker
>> Director
>> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk
>>

Gord Dibben wrote:
> Helene
>
> Gordon is not correct.
>
> Windows Regional Settings control Excel's default number formatting.
>

Well it's *NEVER* worked for me in *ANY* version of Excel on *ANY*
machine I've *EVER* worked on, and that goes back to Office 95 on
Windows 95 right through to Office 2002 on XP SP2. And I use Excel
extensively every day in every job I've had for the last 10 years.


--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Gordon wrote:
> Gord Dibben wrote:
>
>> Helene
>>
>> Gordon is not correct.
>>
>> Windows Regional Settings control Excel's default number formatting.
>>
>
> Well it's *NEVER* worked for me in *ANY* version of Excel on *ANY*
> machine I've *EVER* worked on, and that goes back to Office 95 on
> Windows 95 right through to Office 2002 on XP SP2. And I use Excel
> extensively every day in every job I've had for the last 10 years.
>
>
And I've never known it work for any of the hundreds of colleagues I've
worked with over those ten years either. EVERYONE has ALWAYS had to use
custom formats.

--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

1234Hi all;

On my Windows XP Home:
Start> Control Panel> Regional and Language Options> Regional Options
"English (United States)> Customize>
Numbers> Negative number format: -1.1
Currency> Negative currency format: ($1.1)
I switch to Excel 2003.
Enter -10 in a cell, it shows as -10. Change the format of that cell to
currency, it shows ($10.00). Both happen to match the Windows regional
settings. Is that a coincidence? I'm not curious enough to change those, as
they suit me for a default, but I've never had a problem formatting a
negative number with brackets, and without going all the way to a Format>
Cells> Number> Custom.
Format> Cells> Number> Number> Negative numbers
shows -1,234.10 in black, then the same in red, then (1,234.10) in black,
followed by (1,234.10) in red. This matches my admittedly poor memory of
previous versions of Excel. Choosing the black with brackets and reducing the
decimal places to zero shows the format preview (1,234), and results in (10)
displayed in the cell.
Going to Format> Cells> Number> Custom
on that cell now shows: #,##0_);(#,##0)
a far cry from: _ * # ##0_);_ * (# ##0);_ * "- "_);_ @_ .
I am real curious as to why it was not that simple for Hélène. I don't
suppose anyone knows?

Regards,
Ian.


"Gordon" wrote:

> Gordon wrote:
> > Gord Dibben wrote:
> >
> >> Helene
> >>
> >> Gordon is not correct.
> >>
> >> Windows Regional Settings control Excel's default number formatting.
> >>
> >
> > Well it's *NEVER* worked for me in *ANY* version of Excel on *ANY*
> > machine I've *EVER* worked on, and that goes back to Office 95 on
> > Windows 95 right through to Office 2002 on XP SP2. And I use Excel
> > extensively every day in every job I've had for the last 10 years.
> >
> >
> And I've never known it work for any of the hundreds of colleagues I've
> worked with over those ten years either. EVERYONE has ALWAYS had to use
> custom formats.
>
> --
> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
> Gordon Burgess-Parker
> Director
> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Ian

Not a coincidence.


Gord(not Gordon)

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 16:55:01 -0800, IanRoy <IanRoy@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>1234Hi all;
>
>On my Windows XP Home:
>Start> Control Panel> Regional and Language Options> Regional Options
>"English (United States)> Customize>
>Numbers> Negative number format: -1.1
>Currency> Negative currency format: ($1.1)
>I switch to Excel 2003.
>Enter -10 in a cell, it shows as -10. Change the format of that cell to
>currency, it shows ($10.00). Both happen to match the Windows regional
>settings. Is that a coincidence? I'm not curious enough to change those, as
>they suit me for a default, but I've never had a problem formatting a
>negative number with brackets, and without going all the way to a Format>
>Cells> Number> Custom.
>Format> Cells> Number> Number> Negative numbers
>shows -1,234.10 in black, then the same in red, then (1,234.10) in black,
>followed by (1,234.10) in red. This matches my admittedly poor memory of
>previous versions of Excel. Choosing the black with brackets and reducing the
>decimal places to zero shows the format preview (1,234), and results in (10)
>displayed in the cell.
>Going to Format> Cells> Number> Custom
>on that cell now shows: #,##0_);(#,##0)
>a far cry from: _ * # ##0_);_ * (# ##0);_ * "- "_);_ @_ .
>I am real curious as to why it was not that simple for Hélène. I don't
>suppose anyone knows?
>
>Regards,
>Ian.
>
>
>"Gordon" wrote:
>
>> Gordon wrote:
>> > Gord Dibben wrote:
>> >
>> >> Helene
>> >>
>> >> Gordon is not correct.
>> >>
>> >> Windows Regional Settings control Excel's default number formatting.
>> >>
>> >
>> > Well it's *NEVER* worked for me in *ANY* version of Excel on *ANY*
>> > machine I've *EVER* worked on, and that goes back to Office 95 on
>> > Windows 95 right through to Office 2002 on XP SP2. And I use Excel
>> > extensively every day in every job I've had for the last 10 years.
>> >
>> >
>> And I've never known it work for any of the hundreds of colleagues I've
>> worked with over those ten years either. EVERYONE has ALWAYS had to use
>> custom formats.
>>
>> --
>> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
>> Gordon Burgess-Parker
>> Director
>> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

IanRoy wrote:
> 1234Hi all;
>
> On my Windows XP Home:
> Start> Control Panel> Regional and Language Options> Regional Options
> "English (United States)> Customize>
> Numbers> Negative number format: -1.1
> Currency> Negative currency format: ($1.1)
> I switch to Excel 2003.
> Enter -10 in a cell, it shows as -10. Change the format of that cell to
> currency, it shows ($10.00).

In my version of Excel 2002, when you Format cells to currency, you have
to choose a format! Either -£ or (£) - there's no "generic" format for
currency. And an ordinary negative number, ie NOT currency STILL DOES
NOT USE THE REGIONAL SETTINGS! IT NEVER HAS!


--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Close excel

Change that windows regional setting|currency tab|Negative currency format
to show ($1.1)

Open excel

If you click on Format|cells|Number tab
then choose Number, do your formatting options include ()'s for negative
numbers.

They do for me.

Close excel

Change that windows regional setting|currency tab|Negative currency format
to show -$1.1

Open excel

If you click on Format|cells|Number tab
then choose Number, do your formatting options include ()'s for negative
numbers.

They do not for me.



Gordon wrote:
>
> IanRoy wrote:
> > 1234Hi all;
> >
> > On my Windows XP Home:
> > Start> Control Panel> Regional and Language Options> Regional Options
> > "English (United States)> Customize>
> > Numbers> Negative number format: -1.1
> > Currency> Negative currency format: ($1.1)
> > I switch to Excel 2003.
> > Enter -10 in a cell, it shows as -10. Change the format of that cell to
> > currency, it shows ($10.00).
>
> In my version of Excel 2002, when you Format cells to currency, you have
> to choose a format! Either -£ or (£) - there's no "generic" format for
> currency. And an ordinary negative number, ie NOT currency STILL DOES
> NOT USE THE REGIONAL SETTINGS! IT NEVER HAS!
>
> --
> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
> Gordon Burgess-Parker
> Director
> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

--

Dave Peterson

I'm staying the hell out of this one<g>

Don't wish to upset the other Gordon and his hundreds of colleagues.


Gord

On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 18:08:55 -0600, Dave Peterson <ec35720@netscapeXSPAM.com>
wrote:

>Close excel
>
>Change that windows regional setting|currency tab|Negative currency format
>to show ($1.1)
>
>Open excel
>
>If you click on Format|cells|Number tab
>then choose Number, do your formatting options include ()'s for negative
>numbers.
>
>They do for me.
>
>Close excel
>
>Change that windows regional setting|currency tab|Negative currency format
>to show -$1.1
>
>Open excel
>
>If you click on Format|cells|Number tab
>then choose Number, do your formatting options include ()'s for negative
>numbers.
>
>They do not for me.
>
>
>
>Gordon wrote:
>>
>> IanRoy wrote:
>> > 1234Hi all;
>> >
>> > On my Windows XP Home:
>> > Start> Control Panel> Regional and Language Options> Regional Options
>> > "English (United States)> Customize>
>> > Numbers> Negative number format: -1.1
>> > Currency> Negative currency format: ($1.1)
>> > I switch to Excel 2003.
>> > Enter -10 in a cell, it shows as -10. Change the format of that cell to
>> > currency, it shows ($10.00).
>>
>> In my version of Excel 2002, when you Format cells to currency, you have
>> to choose a format! Either -£ or (£) - there's no "generic" format for
>> currency. And an ordinary negative number, ie NOT currency STILL DOES
>> NOT USE THE REGIONAL SETTINGS! IT NEVER HAS!
>>
>> --
>> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
>> Gordon Burgess-Parker
>> Director
>> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Dave Peterson wrote:
> Close excel
>
> Change that windows regional setting|currency tab|Negative currency format
> to show ($1.1)
>
> Open excel
>
> If you click on Format|cells|Number tab
> then choose Number, do your formatting options include ()'s for negative
> numbers.
>
> They do for me.
>

They do. That's NOT the point I was making. the point I was making, is
that in Lotus, if Regional Settings are set to (1.1), then when you
enter -1.1 in a cell, it is AUTOMATICALLY formatted to (1.1) - you don't
have to DO anything!


--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Gord Dibben wrote:
> I'm staying the hell out of this one<g>
>
> Don't wish to upset the other Gordon and his hundreds of colleagues.
>
>
> Gord
>

I think we are talking at cross-purposes here! Yes, if regional settings
are set to (1.1) then in Format Cells-Numbers then yes there is a format
(1.1). My point was, that in Lotus, if Regional settings are set to
(1.1) and you enter -1.1 in a cell, then Lotus AUTOMATICALLY formats it
to (1.1) - you don't have to DO anything. Excel has NEVER done that.


--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Sounds like you would be happier sticking with Lotus?

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 08:00:20 +0000, Gordon <gordonbp1@yahoo.co.uk.invalid>
wrote:

>Gord Dibben wrote:
>> I'm staying the hell out of this one<g>
>>
>> Don't wish to upset the other Gordon and his hundreds of colleagues.
>>
>>
>> Gord
>>
>
>I think we are talking at cross-purposes here! Yes, if regional settings
>are set to (1.1) then in Format Cells-Numbers then yes there is a format
>(1.1). My point was, that in Lotus, if Regional settings are set to
>(1.1) and you enter -1.1 in a cell, then Lotus AUTOMATICALLY formats it
>to (1.1) - you don't have to DO anything. Excel has NEVER done that.

I don't use Lotus, but I see your point.

Gordon wrote:
>
> Dave Peterson wrote:
> > Close excel
> >
> > Change that windows regional setting|currency tab|Negative currency format
> > to show ($1.1)
> >
> > Open excel
> >
> > If you click on Format|cells|Number tab
> > then choose Number, do your formatting options include ()'s for negative
> > numbers.
> >
> > They do for me.
> >
>
> They do. That's NOT the point I was making. the point I was making, is
> that in Lotus, if Regional Settings are set to (1.1), then when you
> enter -1.1 in a cell, it is AUTOMATICALLY formatted to (1.1) - you don't
> have to DO anything!
>
> --
> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
> Gordon Burgess-Parker
> Director
> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

--

Dave Peterson