By default, values are formatted as general numbers. This means Excel doesn't display zeroes that don't affect the actual numeric value of the number. For example, Excel will display 250 but not $250.00 unless you format the number.
Values can be formatted as
currency
,
percentages
,
fractions
,
dates
, and many other formats. Remember, when you format a number, you're
not
changing the numeric value.
You can format selected cells using the
Formatting toolbar
, the
Format dialog box
, or the
shortcut menu
.
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Currency | Displays and aligns dollar signs, comma separators, and decimal points. Ex: 89.5 as $89.50. |
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Comma | Same as currency, but without dollar signs. Ex: 120.5 as 120,50. |
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Percentage | Displays numbers as percentages. Ex: 0.82 as 82%. |
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Increase Decimal | Ex: .12 as .120. |
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Decrease Decimal | Ex: 0.5670 as 0.567. |
Formatting only affects the look of a cell, not the cell's contents.
To view the contents of a cell
, click the cell and look at the
Formula
bar.
Excel has several number formats to choose from in the
Format Cells dialog box
, which are discussed on the next page.
If you hover your mouse pointer over the dollar sign button on the
Formatting
toolbar, the
tool tip
reads
currency style
. When you apply this button's format, Excel applies the
accountant format
(dashes for zeroes and dollar signs lined up next to the numbers).