Negative Numbers in Brackets - HELP!

Hi,

I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
brackets.

I have Windows XP, Office 2003.

Please help me...

Thanks.

Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any aligment,
are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
text
you can also try

=ISTEXT(cell)

if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select the
numbers
and do paste special and select add.

--

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

"Hélène" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate.
The
> regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show
in
> brackets.
>
> I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
>
> Please help me...
>
> Thanks.
>

Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.

I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all, except
for the "unregister/register", etc.

Could it be a bug?



"Peo Sjoblom" wrote:

> Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any aligment,
> are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> text
> you can also try
>
> =ISTEXT(cell)
>
> if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select the
> numbers
> and do paste special and select add.
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Peo Sjoblom
>
> "Hélène" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate.
> The
> > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show
> in
> > brackets.
> >
> > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> >
> > Please help me...
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
>
>
>

Put -10 in a cell, select the cell, do format>cells>number>custom and use

General;(General)

what happens?

--

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom


"Hélène" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
> alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.
>
> I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all,
except
> for the "unregister/register", etc.
>
> Could it be a bug?
>
>
>
> "Peo Sjoblom" wrote:
>
> > Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any
aligment,
> > are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> > text
> > you can also try
> >
> > =ISTEXT(cell)
> >
> > if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select
the
> > numbers
> > and do paste special and select add.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Peo Sjoblom
> >
> > "Hélène" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get
my
> > > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am
desparate.
> > The
> > > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets
but
> > > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to
show
> > in
> > > brackets.
> > >
> > > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> > >
> > > Please help me...
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> >
> >
> >

I did as suggested and nothing happens, i.e., the format stays at -10.



"Peo Sjoblom" wrote:

> Put -10 in a cell, select the cell, do format>cells>number>custom and use
>
> General;(General)
>
> what happens?
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Peo Sjoblom
>
>
> "Hélène" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
> > alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.
> >
> > I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all,
> except
> > for the "unregister/register", etc.
> >
> > Could it be a bug?
> >
> >
> >
> > "Peo Sjoblom" wrote:
> >
> > > Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any
> aligment,
> > > are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> > > text
> > > you can also try
> > >
> > > =ISTEXT(cell)
> > >
> > > if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select
> the
> > > numbers
> > > and do paste special and select add.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Peo Sjoblom
> > >
> > > "Hélène" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get
> my
> > > > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am
> desparate.
> > > The
> > > > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets
> but
> > > > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to
> show
> > > in
> > > > brackets.
> > > >
> > > > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> > > >
> > > > Please help me...
> > > >
> > > > Thanks.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>

Hi Helene,

A couple of questions:

(a) I take it that right now negative numbers show up as if they were
positive, e.g., minus 35 shows up on your worksheet as "35." Correct?

(b) In Control Panel did you change the regional setting for numbers, for
currency, or for both?

Regards,

Batara

"Hélène" wrote:

> Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
> alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.
>
> I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all, except
> for the "unregister/register", etc.
>
> Could it be a bug?
>
>
>
> "Peo Sjoblom" wrote:
>
> > Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any aligment,
> > are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> > text
> > you can also try
> >
> > =ISTEXT(cell)
> >
> > if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select the
> > numbers
> > and do paste special and select add.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Peo Sjoblom
> >
> > "Hélène" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate.
> > The
> > > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show
> > in
> > > brackets.
> > >
> > > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> > >
> > > Please help me...
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> >
> >
> >

Batara,

a) No the number shows as -10.
b) I changed both.

;0(


"Batara" wrote:

> Hi Helene,
>
> A couple of questions:
>
> (a) I take it that right now negative numbers show up as if they were
> positive, e.g., minus 35 shows up on your worksheet as "35." Correct?
>
> (b) In Control Panel did you change the regional setting for numbers, for
> currency, or for both?
>
> Regards,
>
> Batara
>
> "Hélène" wrote:
>
> > Thank you for your reply. They are seen as numbers, I have not forced any
> > alignment and they are right-aligned, by default.
> >
> > I have seen multiple suggestions on this site, I have tried them all, except
> > for the "unregister/register", etc.
> >
> > Could it be a bug?
> >
> >
> >
> > "Peo Sjoblom" wrote:
> >
> > > Are they seen as numbers at all? Widen the cell, don't force any aligment,
> > > are the numbers left or right aligned, if they are left they are seen as
> > > text
> > > you can also try
> > >
> > > =ISTEXT(cell)
> > >
> > > if it returns TRUE they are text, if so try copy an empty cell, select the
> > > numbers
> > > and do paste special and select add.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Peo Sjoblom
> > >
> > > "Hélène" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > > > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate.
> > > The
> > > > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > > > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show
> > > in
> > > > brackets.
> > > >
> > > > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> > > >
> > > > Please help me...
> > > >
> > > > Thanks.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >

Hélène wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
> regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
> brackets.
>
> I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
>
> Please help me...
>
> Thanks.
>
Excel does NOT use the windows regional setting! (ANOTHER example of MS
not doing joined-up thinking - Lotus DOES however, but that's not an MS
product is it?). You have to use Custom Formatting.

--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Oh! Well, this is the first time I read this although, in this case, it
makes perfect sense... However, many times, on this site, the suggestion to
change the Windows settings was made. Interesting...

Well, in any case, I cannot find a way to force the custom formatting to
display negative numbers in brackets (no decimals, simple numbers).

Hélène

"Gordon" wrote:

> Hélène wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
> > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
> > brackets.
> >
> > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> >
> > Please help me...
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> Excel does NOT use the windows regional setting! (ANOTHER example of MS
> not doing joined-up thinking - Lotus DOES however, but that's not an MS
> product is it?). You have to use Custom Formatting.
>
> --
> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
> Gordon Burgess-Parker
> Director
> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk
>

Gordon, it seems that you were right after all. Windows settings have
nothing to do with this. Here's the solution: Go to Format, Style, Number
and apply this format: _ * # ##0_);_ * (# ##0);_ * "- "_);_ @_ .

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions.

Hélène

"Gordon" wrote:

> Hélène wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
> > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
> > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
> > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
> > brackets.
> >
> > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
> >
> > Please help me...
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> Excel does NOT use the windows regional setting! (ANOTHER example of MS
> not doing joined-up thinking - Lotus DOES however, but that's not an MS
> product is it?). You have to use Custom Formatting.
>
> --
> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
> Gordon Burgess-Parker
> Director
> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk
>

Helene

Gordon is not correct.

Windows Regional Settings control Excel's default number formatting.

Make the changes in Regional Settings to bracketed numbers and currency.

Excel must be closed and re-opened for changes to be seen in Excel.


Gord Dibben Excel MVP

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 07:53:13 -0800, "Hélène" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Gordon, it seems that you were right after all. Windows settings have
>nothing to do with this. Here's the solution: Go to Format, Style, Number
>and apply this format: _ * # ##0_);_ * (# ##0);_ * "- "_);_ @_ .
>
>Thank you everyone for all your suggestions.
>
>Hélène
>
>"Gordon" wrote:
>
>> Hélène wrote:
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I have read every questions and replies on this site in order to get my
>> > negative numbers to show in brackets and nothing works. I am desparate. The
>> > regional settings are changed to indicate negative numbers in brackets but
>> > when I try formatting the cells in Excel, I cannot get the numbers to show in
>> > brackets.
>> >
>> > I have Windows XP, Office 2003.
>> >
>> > Please help me...
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> >
>> Excel does NOT use the windows regional setting! (ANOTHER example of MS
>> not doing joined-up thinking - Lotus DOES however, but that's not an MS
>> product is it?). You have to use Custom Formatting.
>>
>> --
>> Interim Systems and Management Accounting
>> Gordon Burgess-Parker
>> Director
>> www.gbpcomputing.co.uk
>>

Gord Dibben wrote:
> Helene
>
> Gordon is not correct.
>
> Windows Regional Settings control Excel's default number formatting.
>

Well it's *NEVER* worked for me in *ANY* version of Excel on *ANY*
machine I've *EVER* worked on, and that goes back to Office 95 on
Windows 95 right through to Office 2002 on XP SP2. And I use Excel
extensively every day in every job I've had for the last 10 years.


--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Gordon wrote:
> Gord Dibben wrote:
>
>> Helene
>>
>> Gordon is not correct.
>>
>> Windows Regional Settings control Excel's default number formatting.
>>
>
> Well it's *NEVER* worked for me in *ANY* version of Excel on *ANY*
> machine I've *EVER* worked on, and that goes back to Office 95 on
> Windows 95 right through to Office 2002 on XP SP2. And I use Excel
> extensively every day in every job I've had for the last 10 years.
>
>
And I've never known it work for any of the hundreds of colleagues I've
worked with over those ten years either. EVERYONE has ALWAYS had to use
custom formats.

--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk