Microsoft KB Archive/214304

= XL: Minus Sign Appears Before Text in Custom Number Format =

Article ID: 214304

Article Last Modified on 1/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q214304





SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you create a custom number format that contains a text string, and you apply this format to a negative number, the text string may appear between the minus sign (-) and the number.



WORKAROUND
To create a custom number format so that the minus sign for negative number appears directly before the number, you must include formatting specifically for negative numbers. For example, instead of using the following code "The value is "0. which uses the same format for both positive and negative numbers, use the following code: "The value is "0.;"The value is "-0. The section of the format after the semicolon places the minus sign to the right of the text string when the number is negative.

Additional query words: XL2000 xl2001 xl2002 xl97 xl98

Keywords: kbprb KB214304

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