XL: Minus Sign Appears Before Text in Custom Number Format

 Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
Article ID: Q106150
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2, 3.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.2, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you create a custom number format that contains a text string, and you apply this format to a negative number, the text string may appear between the minus sign and the number.

WORKAROUND

To create a custom number format so that the minus sign for negative number appears directly before the number, you must include formatting specifically for negative numbers. For example, instead of using the following code 

   "The value is "0.
which uses the same format for both positive and negative numbers, use the following code: 

   "The value is "0.;"The value is "-0.
The section of the format after the semicolon (;) places the minus sign to the right of the text string when the number is negative.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article.

REFERENCES

"User's Guide," version 5.0, Chapter 12 "User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 218-227 "User's Guide," version 3.0 for Windows and OS/2, pages 186-194 "User's Guide," version 3.0 for the Macintosh, pages 178-186 "User's Guide," version 2.x for Windows, pages 321-326

Additional query words: 4.00 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 7.00a 97 98 XL98 XL97
XL7 XL5 XL4
Keywords : kbualink97
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,4.0,5.0,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:3.0,4.0,5.0,98
Platform : MACINTOSH OS/2 WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb
Solution Type : kbworkaround

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.