Custom format a text cell with square brackets: [ ] ?

Is it possible to format a text cell so that the user can just type in
a text reference from a catalogue - i.e., letters of the alphabet -
but that Excel then puts in square brackets?

i.e., rather than typing in [A1], the user types in A1 and Excel shows
the cell contents as [A1}.

Thanks.

Select the cells in which you want the brackets
Choose Format>Cells
On the Number tab, choose Custom
In the text box, type: "["@"]"
Click OK


StargateFan wrote:
> Is it possible to format a text cell so that the user can just type in
> a text reference from a catalogue - i.e., letters of the alphabet -
> but that Excel then puts in square brackets?
>
> i.e., rather than typing in [A1], the user types in A1 and Excel shows
> the cell contents as [A1}.

--
Debra Dalgleish
Excel FAQ, Tips & Book List
http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html

On Thu, 03 Feb 2005 21:05:00 -0500, Debra Dalgleish
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Select the cells in which you want the brackets
>Choose Format>Cells
>On the Number tab, choose Custom
>In the text box, type: "["@"]"
>Click OK

Excellent! This works perfectly. I just fixed the template and the
actual spreadsheet I was working on.

<sigh> Guys, you're the best. You make me look _so_ good; I couldn't
do it without all this help. <g> But more importantly, I get my jobs
done with maximum efficiency and minimum fuss. I _love_ it! <g>

Thanks!

>StargateFan wrote:
>> Is it possible to format a text cell so that the user can just type in
>> a text reference from a catalogue - i.e., letters of the alphabet -
>> but that Excel then puts in square brackets?
>>
>> i.e., rather than typing in [A1], the user types in A1 and Excel shows
>> the cell contents as [A1}.
>
>--
>Debra Dalgleish
>Excel FAQ, Tips & Book List
>http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html