Set negative numbers in brackets as default

**psychedelic** · 11-26-2012, 08:31 PM

Currently, Excel displays negative numbers with hyphens as the default. I want them to be displayed in parantheses.

I know that I can do a custom format and type in #,##0;(#,##0);0 and it will work fine, but is there a way of making this the default?

When I go into Region and Language in the Control Panel, I have selected the negative numbers to be shown in round brackets - but the default is still showing negative numbers with a hyphen.

Is there a way of changing the default?

**vlady** · 11-26-2012, 08:40 PM

Maybe you should look at the XLSTART

Open Excel to a blank workbook.
Format the blank file with all options you want.
Once your changes are made, click the Office button and choose Save As.
select Excel Template (*.xltx) and change the file name to BOOK
Set the SAVE IN location to the XLSTART folder.
maybe in C:Program Files\Microsoft OfficeOffice12\XLSTART.
Click Save.
CLose Excel then Reopen

**psychedelic** · 11-28-2012, 01:42 AM

Is this similar to changing the Normal.dot template in Word?

**vlady** · 11-28-2012, 01:49 AM

i think so. they are all same "templates" that opens when we open a word/excel.
If ever you will do that in word which i didn't have experience on it's template please do a back up of this file, just in case.