fixed decimal entry

[M.Hall]

I have always marked the option to use fixed decimal, 2
places because I found it easier since I work with mostly
monetary values. In the past, if you wanted zero cents,
you could enter the whole number then the decimal only
and it placed the fixed decimal with the two zeros after
it (keystroke 20. returned 20.00). With Excel 2003
(which I just started using) I have found that when you
try that same thing, it floats the decimal over
(keystroke 20. returns .20) however if you add one zero
after the decimal it is correct (keystroke 20.0 returns
20.00) which hardly makes it a short cut.

Does anyone know if I am missing a setting, or did the
new version just eliminate this shortcut that I liked?

Thanks!

 

[Jim Rech]

This appears to be a change in Excel 2003 (you're the second person I've
seen ask about it). Probably an unintended change but unfortunate
nevertheless.

--
Jim Rech
Excel MVP
|I have always marked the option to use fixed decimal, 2
| places because I found it easier since I work with mostly
| monetary values. In the past, if you wanted zero cents,
| you could enter the whole number then the decimal only
| and it placed the fixed decimal with the two zeros after
| it (keystroke 20. returned 20.00). With Excel 2003
| (which I just started using) I have found that when you
| try that same thing, it floats the decimal over
| (keystroke 20. returns .20) however if you add one zero
| after the decimal it is correct (keystroke 20.0 returns
| 20.00) which hardly makes it a short cut.
|
| Does anyone know if I am missing a setting, or did the
| new version just eliminate this shortcut that I liked?
|
| Thanks!

 

[MHall]

Do you know if there is a place to reports these things
to Microsoft? I would love to see this get fixed.

 

[Jim Rech]

You could post something here I guess:

http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/suggestions.aspx?CTT=98

 

[Gord Dibben]

Fixed Decimals setting has always worked this way, not just in XL 2003.

Enter 20 and it returns .20 if set to 2 in Tools>Options>Edit "Fixed Decimals"

If you want to enter 20 and return 20.00 just format the cell as Number with 2
decimal places and uncheck the "Fixed Decimals"

20 returns 20.00

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Dave Peterson]

But 20. (note decimal point) stays 20 (not converted to .20) with xl2002.

The OP said that 20. (again with the decimal point) gets converted to .20 in
xl2003.

The OP has to type 20.0 to have it stay a whole number.

(But I bet you've seen the other posts already.)