Microsoft KB Archive/123070

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

General Number Value Displays Differently in Print Preview
Last reviewed: March 27, 1997

Article ID: Q123070

3.00 4.00 5.00 5.00c 7.00 | 3.00 4.00 5.00

WINDOWS                  | MACINTOSH kbprint

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 5.0c
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, under certain conditions, a numeric value in a cell formatted with the General number format displays a different value on the screen than in print preview, or on the printed worksheet.

In Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0, this behavior may also occur on a zoomed worksheet.

CAUSE
When you apply the General number format to a value in a cell, the value is rounded to the nearest decimal place that can of be displayed within the given column width. Under certain conditions, the column width available is calculated differently for the screen display than it is for print preview or the printed worksheet. The result is that one or more of these graphic outputs may display the rounded value while the other displays the non- rounded value.

Note that this behavior depends on the resolution of the video driver that you are using as well as the formatting applied to the cells.

WORKAROUND
To avoid this behavior, increase the width of the column that contains the cell with the General formatting to prevent the vale from being rounded, or apply a different number formatting to the affected cells.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.