cell will not center

Hi.

I have a user with an Excel worksheet. There are multiple rows and columns
and they are all set on center alignment, (center alignment icon on the
toolbar as well as Format Cells --> Horizontal Alignment --> Center.) The
alphabetical characters align correctly but the numerical don't, as they will
only left align. Format Cells --> Number is set to General, so I don't know
why it won't change the alignment.

Other than the worksheet being corrupted, I don't know what could be wrong
with it.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks!

Hilary

=?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Hi.
>
> I have a user with an Excel worksheet. There are multiple rows and
> columns and they are all set on center alignment, (center alignment
> icon on the toolbar as well as Format Cells --> Horizontal Alignment
> --> Center.) The alphabetical characters align correctly but the
> numerical don't, as they will only left align.

Do you see (in the formula bar) an apostrophe ' before these numbers?


--

It is I, DeauDeau
(Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)

Nope. No apostrophe.

"Dodo" wrote:

> =?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > Hi.
> >
> > I have a user with an Excel worksheet. There are multiple rows and
> > columns and they are all set on center alignment, (center alignment
> > icon on the toolbar as well as Format Cells --> Horizontal Alignment
> > --> Center.) The alphabetical characters align correctly but the
> > numerical don't, as they will only left align.
>
> Do you see (in the formula bar) an apostrophe ' before these numbers?
>
>
> --
>
> It is I, DeauDeau
> (Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)
>

=?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Nope. No apostrophe.
>

The only other thing I can think of giving this result, is when the
"numbers" are followed by spaces. This you can check too in the formula
bar.


--

It is I, DeauDeau
(Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)

Is the user using Excel for the worksheet, or a viewer of some form?

Can the user, in another cell, put =A1+1 (where A1 is replaced with address of one of the offending cells)

Does the offending cell show the data to the left and double width, as it would be if Alt/Enter were used in the cell?

Are there any other clues, such as what happens if you re-enter the number in the cell? (you can Ctrl/Z to un-enter that)

Originally Posted by Dodo

=?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Nope. No apostrophe.
>

The only other thing I can think of giving this result, is when the
"numbers" are followed by spaces. This you can check too in the formula
bar.


--

It is I, DeauDeau
(Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)

Is the cell part of a merged area? (maybe it's centered in those cells that are
merged?)

Has the cell been part of multiple cells that were formatted via:
cells|format|alignment tab|horizontal text alignment box:
Center across Selection

I remember having trouble turning that off in earlier versions and keeping
alignment the way I wanted.

Are you sure that the cell is really formatted as general:
select the cell
hit alt-f11 (to get to the VBE)
hit ctrl-g (to see the immediate window)

type this:
?activecell.numberformat

do you get: General
returned?






Hilary wrote:
>
> Hi.
>
> I have a user with an Excel worksheet. There are multiple rows and columns
> and they are all set on center alignment, (center alignment icon on the
> toolbar as well as Format Cells --> Horizontal Alignment --> Center.) The
> alphabetical characters align correctly but the numerical don't, as they will
> only left align. Format Cells --> Number is set to General, so I don't know
> why it won't change the alignment.
>
> Other than the worksheet being corrupted, I don't know what could be wrong
> with it.
>
> Any suggestions are much appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Hilary

--

Dave Peterson

Dodo Wrote:
> =?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= [email protected] wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
> -
> Nope. No apostrophe.
> -
>
> The only other thing I can think of giving this result, is when the
> "numbers" are followed by spaces. This you can check too in the
> formula
> bar.
>
>
> --
>
> It is I, DeauDeau
> (Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)


Did you previously set those cells to "Comma Style"?
If you look next to the icon for "Currency Style", you've got
"Percentage", "Comma" and "Add/Remove Decimal Place".

Once you've set a cell to Currency or Comma Style, even removing the
decimal places leaves that style set, and sets an invisible 'decimal
tab' point.

Try going to Format -- Cells -- Number
Then, select Category as 'Number' and set the required number of
decimal places. This may fix it.

Regards,
BizMark


--
BizMark

Hi Dave.

No, it's not part of a merged area nor has the cell been part of multiple
cells that were formatted as you described. And finally, I entered
?activecell.numberformat and got "general."

I'm stumped!

Hilary

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

> Is the cell part of a merged area? (maybe it's centered in those cells that are
> merged?)
>
> Has the cell been part of multiple cells that were formatted via:
> cells|format|alignment tab|horizontal text alignment box:
> Center across Selection
>
> I remember having trouble turning that off in earlier versions and keeping
> alignment the way I wanted.
>
> Are you sure that the cell is really formatted as general:
> select the cell
> hit alt-f11 (to get to the VBE)
> hit ctrl-g (to see the immediate window)
>
> type this:
> ?activecell.numberformat
>
> do you get: General
> returned?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hilary wrote:
> >
> > Hi.
> >
> > I have a user with an Excel worksheet. There are multiple rows and columns
> > and they are all set on center alignment, (center alignment icon on the
> > toolbar as well as Format Cells --> Horizontal Alignment --> Center.) The
> > alphabetical characters align correctly but the numerical don't, as they will
> > only left align. Format Cells --> Number is set to General, so I don't know
> > why it won't change the alignment.
> >
> > Other than the worksheet being corrupted, I don't know what could be wrong
> > with it.
> >
> > Any suggestions are much appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Hilary
>
> --
>
> Dave Peterson
>

Hi Bryan.

The user is using Excel for the worksheet. When I put =A1+1 (replacing with
the offending cell), it does not add the two numbers. Finally, nothing
different happens when I re-enter a number in the offending cell.

However, cells with alphabetical text do center properly.

Any other thoughts?

Hilary

"Bryan Hessey" wrote:

>
> Is the user using Excel for the worksheet, or a viewer of some form?
>
> Can the user, in another cell, put =A1+1 (where A1 is replaced with
> address of one of the offending cells)
>
> Does the offending cell show the data to the left and double width, as
> it would be if Alt/Enter were used in the cell?
>
> Are there any other clues, such as what happens if you re-enter the
> number in the cell? (you can Ctrl/Z to un-enter that)
>
>
> Dodo Wrote:
> > =?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
> > news:[email protected]:
> >
> > > Nope. No apostrophe.
> > >
> >
> > The only other thing I can think of giving this result, is when the
> > "numbers" are followed by spaces. This you can check too in the
> > formula
> > bar.
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > It is I, DeauDeau
> > (Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)
>
>
> --
> Bryan Hessey
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bryan Hessey's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=21059
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=395199
>
>

Hi Bryan.

The user is using Excel for the worksheet. When I put =A1+1 (replacing with
the offending cell), it does not add the two numbers. Finally, nothing
different happens when I re-enter a number in the offending cell.

However, cells with alphabetical text do center properly.

Any other thoughts?

Hilary

"Bryan Hessey" wrote:

>
> Is the user using Excel for the worksheet, or a viewer of some form?
>
> Can the user, in another cell, put =A1+1 (where A1 is replaced with
> address of one of the offending cells)
>
> Does the offending cell show the data to the left and double width, as
> it would be if Alt/Enter were used in the cell?
>
> Are there any other clues, such as what happens if you re-enter the
> number in the cell? (you can Ctrl/Z to un-enter that)
>
>
> Dodo Wrote:
> > =?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
> > news:[email protected]:
> >
> > > Nope. No apostrophe.
> > >
> >
> > The only other thing I can think of giving this result, is when the
> > "numbers" are followed by spaces. This you can check too in the
> > formula
> > bar.
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > It is I, DeauDeau
> > (Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)
>
>
> --
> Bryan Hessey
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bryan Hessey's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=21059
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=395199
>
>

Hi BizMark.

As far as I know, no one has set the cells to comma style.

Hilary

"BizMark" wrote:

>
> Dodo Wrote:
> > =?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= [email protected] wrote in
> > news:[email protected]:
> > -
> > Nope. No apostrophe.
> > -
> >
> > The only other thing I can think of giving this result, is when the
> > "numbers" are followed by spaces. This you can check too in the
> > formula
> > bar.
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > It is I, DeauDeau
> > (Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)
>
>
> Did you previously set those cells to "Comma Style"?
> If you look next to the icon for "Currency Style", you've got
> "Percentage", "Comma" and "Add/Remove Decimal Place".
>
> Once you've set a cell to Currency or Comma Style, even removing the
> decimal places leaves that style set, and sets an invisible 'decimal
> tab' point.
>
> Try going to Format -- Cells -- Number
> Then, select Category as 'Number' and set the required number of
> decimal places. This may fix it.
>
> Regards,
> BizMark
>
>
> --
> BizMark
>

Nope, no spaces either.

"Dodo" wrote:

> =?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > Nope. No apostrophe.
> >
>
> The only other thing I can think of giving this result, is when the
> "numbers" are followed by spaces. This you can check too in the formula
> bar.
>
>
> --
>
> It is I, DeauDeau
> (Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)
>

I don't have another guess.

Sorry.

Hilary wrote:
>
> Hi Dave.
>
> No, it's not part of a merged area nor has the cell been part of multiple
> cells that were formatted as you described. And finally, I entered
> ?activecell.numberformat and got "general."
>
> I'm stumped!
>
> Hilary
>
> "Dave Peterson" wrote:
>
> > Is the cell part of a merged area? (maybe it's centered in those cells that are
> > merged?)
> >
> > Has the cell been part of multiple cells that were formatted via:
> > cells|format|alignment tab|horizontal text alignment box:
> > Center across Selection
> >
> > I remember having trouble turning that off in earlier versions and keeping
> > alignment the way I wanted.
> >
> > Are you sure that the cell is really formatted as general:
> > select the cell
> > hit alt-f11 (to get to the VBE)
> > hit ctrl-g (to see the immediate window)
> >
> > type this:
> > ?activecell.numberformat
> >
> > do you get: General
> > returned?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hilary wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi.
> > >
> > > I have a user with an Excel worksheet. There are multiple rows and columns
> > > and they are all set on center alignment, (center alignment icon on the
> > > toolbar as well as Format Cells --> Horizontal Alignment --> Center.) The
> > > alphabetical characters align correctly but the numerical don't, as they will
> > > only left align. Format Cells --> Number is set to General, so I don't know
> > > why it won't change the alignment.
> > >
> > > Other than the worksheet being corrupted, I don't know what could be wrong
> > > with it.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions are much appreciated.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > Hilary
> >
> > --
> >
> > Dave Peterson
> >

--

Dave Peterson

=?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Hi Bryan.
>
> The user is using Excel for the worksheet. When I put =A1+1 (replacing
> with the offending cell), it does not add the two numbers.

Doesn't that indicate that the offending cell's format is not number?!

What do you get as a result of this formula?

Does this all happen only on the user's puter or also on other machines
when you copy the spreadsheet there?


--

It is I, DeauDeau
(Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)

=?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Nope, no spaces either.
>

You're not by any chance using a right-to-left capable OS?

http://support.microsoft.com/default...3467#appliesto

Or macros/VBA running in the background doing things?

Or designed the worksheet in one Excel version and saved/use it in a
different version?

What version is being used?

What else is typical for that particular spreadsheet/work environment?

What does MS have to say about it? ;-)))


--

It is I, DeauDeau
(Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)

Thanks for your help. We've decided to just call it a currupted file and copy
and paste into a new worksheet. Thanks though!

Hilary

"Dodo" wrote:

> =?Utf-8?B?SGlsYXJ5?= <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > Nope, no spaces either.
> >
>
> You're not by any chance using a right-to-left capable OS?
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...3467#appliesto
>
> Or macros/VBA running in the background doing things?
>
> Or designed the worksheet in one Excel version and saved/use it in a
> different version?
>
> What version is being used?
>
> What else is typical for that particular spreadsheet/work environment?
>
> What does MS have to say about it? ;-)))
>
>
> --
>
> It is I, DeauDeau
> (Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)
>

I think I might have your answer; hopefully 9 years isn't too long to wait.

try hitting "ctrl ~" simultaneously to change the view from the formula view.

it seems that when you're in the formula view, the center formatting is turned off

9 years after the question, six months after the answer, you saved me. You saved me from having an uncenterable number and also from losing my job and possibly facing criminal charges for setting my computer on fire.

OMG! 9 years + 9 months later and you saved me too! This was driving me crazy! I must have accidentally hit Ctrl + ~ at some point. I just screamed in frustrtaion (attracting the attention of the entire office), turned to MrExcel as a last resort AND HERE IS THE ANSWER! MrExcel should have been my first resort. Thank you thank you thank you! 111222 Is my hero! And ShabbyTabby I can relate.

12 year old question, 3 year old answer, and this thread is still saving "lives". Thank you 111222, SOOOOO much.

OMG this helped me a lot!

I made an account just to say this is still working on Microsoft 365! Couldn't figure out what was going on and found this when I searched! 17 years later and still going!!! Thanks a lot!

I found this answer in 2023 and it worked a treat! And I consider myself an Excel power user. *hangs head in disgrace* THANK YOU!