Excel: Preventing Zero Values from Being Displayed

• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.x, 2.2, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0

SUMMARY

There are two methods that can be used to prevent zero values from being displayed on a Microsoft Excel worksheet. In Excel versions 2.2, and later, either Method 1 or Method 2 will work. If you are using a version of Microsoft Excel before 2.2, you must use Method 2.

Method 1

1. From the Options menu, choose Display.

2. Cancel Zero Values. Choose the OK button.

Method 2

1. Select the cells in which you do not want zero values to display.

2. From the Format menu, choose Number.

3. Edit the number format so that the zero segment is blank. The zero segment in the number format is the segment between the second and third semicolons. (The third semicolon is not necessary.)

   For example, if you are using the number format "#,##0.00;(#,##0.00)", modify it so that it reads as follows:

         #,##0.00;(#,##0.00);
   

   Note that there is nothing after the second semicolon. The following format is equivalent:

         #,##0.00;(#,##0.00);;General
   

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 218-227

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 3.0, pages 178-186

"Microsoft Excel Reference," version 2.2, pages 507-512

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 1.5, pages 127-131