Currency Format Causes Alignment Problems in Excel

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0

SUMMARY

When you use the currency format, formatted numbers may not align flush right.

All currency formats, for example, $#,##0_);($#,##0), have a space between the first 0 and the semicolon as a default setting. This space is created by an underscore and any character (in this example a closing parenthesis) after the final zero in the first number in the format.

The additional space keeps negative and positive numbers aligned correctly when negative numbers are enclosed in parenthesis.

For example:

   Default format (with space)   $495.00
                                ($495.00)

   Revised format (without space)   $495.00
                                  ($495.00)

MORE INFORMATION

To change the currency format setting so that the formatted cell is flush right, do the following:

1. Select the "misaligned" cell.

2. From the Format menu, choose Cells, and select the Number tab. (In Microsoft Excel 4.0, choose Number from the Format menu.)

3. In the Code box at the bottom of the dialog box, click between the last zero and the underscore before the closing parenthesis in the first part of the number, and delete both the underscore and the closing parenthesis.

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

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

REFERENCES

"User's Guide," version 5.0, pages 210-214 "User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 106-110 "Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 3, pages 90-96