Excel Changing Numbers Automatically

[Guest]

I am using Excel 2003 (fully patched). In ANY spreadsheet I have open, new
or old, any number I insert (e.g. 5000), is automatically changed to 5. Any
number inputted has its decimal place moved three places to the left in other
words. If I use a comma (e.g. 5,000), the number stays as 5,000. I have
checked the format of the cells, and it does not matter whether I format it
as general, or number, or any combination, it always does this. This started
out of the blue. There does not seem to be any running Macros, and Macro
security is set to very high (I've tried changing this as well with no
affect). I have anti-virus patched to the latest signature files, and it
does not detect anything on the system. I have not yet reinstalled Excel, I
thought maybe it was something easy someone has seen before.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Guest]

Just a guess, but check your Regional Settings in Control Panel. Perhaps
that is messed up.

 

[Dave Peterson]

Could you have:

tools|options|Edit tab
Fixed decimal places checked (with 3 as the number of places)?

If you do, just uncheck that option.

 

[Guest]

That was it, thank you so much!

Could you have:

tools|options|Edit tab
Fixed decimal places checked (with 3 as the number of places)?

If you do, just uncheck that option.

 

[Guest]

Dave,

What is the purpose of this option? In other words, how can I use it to my
advantage?

Is it a workbook specific setting, or a global setting?