A cell appears "######". What's this?

[Guest]

I write down a type, for example "55,000", which is by default a general
type. From the menu Format, Cells, Number , I try to make it as an
accounting type(in dollars), I press ok and then my type "55,000" disappears
and appears a "#####" instead. What is this and how can I correct it? Thank
you.

 

[Guest]

Make the column wider, the "#####" means that there is not enough room to
display the contents

 

[Ragdyer]

OR ... you could make your font *smaller*!

 

[Dave Peterson]

It could mean a few things.

1. The columnwidth is too narrow to show the number.

Widen the column or change the font size of that cell. Or change the
numberformat to General.

2. You have a date/time in that cell and it's negative

Don't use negative dates. If excel was helping you, it may have
changed the format to a date. Change it back to General (or some
other number format).

If you need to see negative date/times:
Tools|options|Calculation Tab|and check 1904 date system
(but this can cause trouble--watch what happens to your dates
and watch what happens when you copy|paste dates to a different
workbook that doesn't use this setting)

3. You have a lot of text in the cell, the cell is formatted as Text.

Format the cell as general.

4. You really have ###'s in that cell.

Clean up that cell.

5. You have # in a cell, but it's format is set to Fill.

Change the format
(format|cells|alignment tab|horizontal box, change it to General.

 

[SteveW]

You sound like my dad.
99.999999999% of the time it's option 1
The post said it contained 55,000
As a sensible refence reply its correct - but no one on here reads posts
before they throw a problem in


Steve

 

[Ragdyer]

Is this pointed at Dave only, or am I included in this,
<<<"but no one on here reads posts before they throw a problem in">>>

Either way, have *you* read the *subject* line?

What do you think Dave's answer would accomplish when this thread becomes
part of the archives?
When someone is searching for assistance, they certainly *don't* read the
message text, but *do* depend on the subject line, and who's to say that
this someone's solution is not covered by Dave's suggestions.

These groups are here to help everyone ... yesterday, today, *and* tomorrow!
--
Regards,

RD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


You sound like my dad.
99.999999999% of the time it's option 1
The post said it contained 55,000
As a sensible refence reply its correct - but no one on here reads posts
before they throw a problem in


Steve

 

[SteveW]

Not you as well.

Point taken about archives.

Steve

ps your -- in the signature (in the middle of the post) caused the rest of
the post to be cut from this replay

 

[Epinn]

RD,

I totally agree with you. When I answer posts, I feel like including some good links (MS training/assistance etc.) to some basic materials, if I see appropriate. But, I always have this concern that the poster may feel "offended" because it is too basic. The truth is I think of all the other users doing research. By the way, I enjoyed Dave's writeup and I learned something even though I wasn't looking to solve a problem. It is good to be detailed.

<<<"but no one on here reads posts before they throw a problem in">>>

Not true, at least for me. I might not have done a search directly in the MS forum but I use Google and very often the posts from the MS forums show up. Dave knew that on Saturday I quoted from his post of *2004* about printing row numbers *only*.

Cheers,

Epinn

Is this pointed at Dave only, or am I included in this,
<<<"but no one on here reads posts before they throw a problem in">>>

Either way, have *you* read the *subject* line?

What do you think Dave's answer would accomplish when this thread becomes
part of the archives?
When someone is searching for assistance, they certainly *don't* read the
message text, but *do* depend on the subject line, and who's to say that
this someone's solution is not covered by Dave's suggestions.

These groups are here to help everyone ... yesterday, today, *and* tomorrow!
--
Regards,

RD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit !
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


You sound like my dad.
99.999999999% of the time it's option 1
The post said it contained 55,000
As a sensible refence reply its correct - but no one on here reads posts
before they throw a problem in


Steve

 

[SteveW]

I understand the concept of archive, though I'd have thought the majority
of OPs on here don't even read the posts from the day before.

But the detail in Dave's answer is the only time ##### has got such a
lengthy reply
It's asked about, probably once a week

I'll hangback next time.

Steve

 

[Guest]

But the detail in Dave's answer is the only time ##### has got such a
lengthy reply

Actually, I'm v.grateful that Dave P. and the many other regulars do take
the trouble now and then to provide such comprehensive replies. This can only
enrich & deepen the excel archives for the benefit of all, .. forever.

---

 

[Dave Peterson]

Your dad sounds like a wise and generous person.

You sound like my dad.
99.999999999% of the time it's option 1
The post said it contained 55,000
As a sensible refence reply its correct - but no one on here reads posts
before they throw a problem in

Steve

 

[Bob Phillips]

Not so. Dave wheels that reply out regularly <g>

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(replace somewhere in email address with gmail if mailing direct)

<snip>

But the detail in Dave's answer is the only time ##### has got such a
lengthy reply

<snip>

 

[Dave Peterson]

Vroom, Vroom!

Not so. Dave wheels that reply out regularly <g>

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(replace somewhere in email address with gmail if mailing direct)

<snip>

But the detail in Dave's answer is the only time ##### has got such a
lengthy reply

<snip>

 

[Max]

I liked Dave's # 4
Never would have thought of that <g>

---

 

[Dave Peterson]

Hey, didn't you use that comment before?

Or are you just wheeling out your standard messages????

<vbg>

 

[Epinn]

I like Dave's #5. I have been trying to fill a cell all morning but couldn't remember how, even though I did it the other day. Glad that rereading Dave's post gave me the answer.

Dave, forgot to tell you that your post is a sample of the kind of excellence that I (a new user) am looking for in an answer. Look forward to more "VROM," "VROM," or whatever ...... <g> Kudos to Dave!

I have thanked the other experts separately under different circumstances. So, please don't feel left out.

Wonder if MS wants me to cut down my "thank you" posts to save storage? <g> I think appreciation is paramount.

Epinn

Hey, didn't you use that comment before?

Or are you just wheeling out your standard messages????

<vbg>

 

[Dave Peterson]

Glad you found some use to #5.

And thanks for the thanks.