Number / decimal places

[MBA]

On a spreadsheet we have prices for items (i.e 88.20). When I look a tthe
spread sheet, the numbers are correct, but when I look up in the data box,
the number shows as 88.198. Then we get a note fromthe programmer that is
imputting this data into their system:
Unit Price must be a Number with no more than 4 decimal places and not
contain a $.

1) How do I make the numbers show as $88.20.
2) We do not have any $ signs on the spreadsheet.

Thank you

 

[JoeU2004]

On a spreadsheet we have prices for items (i.e 88.20). When I look a tthe
spread sheet, the numbers are correct, but when I look up in the data box,
the number shows as 88.198

You are confusing the __displayed__ value with the __actual__ value. The
actual must indeed be 88.198 -- and not even that exactly, perhaps not even
within 15 significant digits. You can see the approximate actual value by
changing the format of the cell, e.g Number with 13 decimal places in this
case.

Unit Price must be a Number with no more than 4 decimal places and not
contain a $.

1) How do I make the numbers show as $88.20.
2) We do not have any $ signs on the spreadsheet.

Use the Number format. But your decimal places requirements seem to
contradict each other. The term "decimal places" refers to the number of
digits following the decimal place. 88.20 has 2 decimal places, not 4.

Regardless, if you want numbers to be rounded to 2 decimal places, I think
it is best to use ROUND explicitly. Formatting to 2 (or 4) decimal places
causes the __displayed__ value to be appear to be rounded; but it does not
change the underlying __actual__ value.

Alternatively, you can set the calculation option "Precision as displayed"
(Tools > Options > Calculation). However, that needs to be used with some
care. I avoid it.


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