formatting cells to show negative numbers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lew Neiman
  • Start date Start date
L

Lew Neiman

Hello:

I cannot get Excel to change a number to a negative
number using the format cell feature. For example:
I highlite the cell with the number in it. Then I select
format cells. Then I click on the number tab and select
the number option. I go to the negative number list box
and select my choice of a negative number. I hit ok and
nothing happens.

I have tried to correct the problem using the help
feature with no luck.

Could you please tell me how to make this work.

Thank you,

Lew Neiman
 
The number that you're trying to reformat is probably entered as text
instead of as a number. Click on the cell containing the number. In
the formula bar, is there an apostrophe before the number? If so, take
it out.
 
Hi Lew!

From your description, I think that you are attempting the impossible.
Formatting cannot change a number that is stored by Excel as a
positive to a negative. You can make it *look like* a negative using a
custom format of (eg) "-"#.### but that would not make it negative.

If you want to reverse the signs of all numbers in a range:

Select an empty cell
Enter -1 in that cell
Copy
Select the range you want to change
Edit > Past Special > Multiply > OK

If you just want to use the negative value of a particular positive
cell in a formula, you can use =-A1 but note that if A1 *is* a
negative, this will give you the value as a positive.

But Rule 1 for formatting is that it only changes how a cell is
displayed. It doesn't change what is stored.
 
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