need to format negative sign before number

[neelpatel]

I am taking out data from a different file which gives me "< 81" in one cell. Is there any way I can change it to "< -81" by custom formatting or an equation?

Thank you for your help.

[Ace_XL]

If the result in the cell is just 81 (i.e. a number ) you can use cell format
< -0

Else Excel reads < 81 as text and you would need to:
- Either do a Find+Replace (Find:"< " Replace:"< -")
- or use a formula
=SUBSTITUTE(A1,"< ","< -")

Does this help?

[DGagnon]

you need to treat it like text in this case becasue it is no longer a number when it has the sign next to it, this would prevent you from doing this by using formating, but you could use a formula, something like this

=LEFT(A1,2)&"-"&RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-2)

[neelpatel]

Thanks DGagnon and ACE_xl!!! Appreciate the help it worked!!