Microsoft KB Archive/137263

= XL: Custom Scientific Number Format Displayed Incorrectly =

Article ID: 137263

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q137263





SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you create custom scientific number formats, you may experience unexpected results.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel mentioned at the beginning of this article.



MORE INFORMATION
The default Scientific number format included in Microsoft Excel is "0.00E+00". This format shows one number before the decimal point and two numbers after. If you create a custom scientific number format that has more than one place indicator before the decimal point, the numbers before the decimal point may not appear as you would expect.

For example, the following table shows a number, how the number will be displayed in Microsoft Excel with the "0.00E+00" format code, how the number will be displayed with the "00.00E+00" format code, and how you might expect it to be displayed with the "00.00E+00" format code.

                     0.00E+00      00.00E+00      00.00E+00 Number         Actual        Actual        Expected ---

0.00000245      2.45E-06      02.45E-06      24.5E-07

Earlier versions of Microsoft Excel display the number as shown in the "Expected" column. Depending on the number in the cell and the number of significant digits before the decimal point in the Custom Format Code, the versions of Microsoft Excel listed in this article may or may not show the number as expected.



Microsoft Excel Version 7.0
For more information about how to create custom number formats in Microsoft Excel, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

  formatting cells, n

double-click the selected text, then double-click "Create Custom Number Formats."

Microsoft Excel Version 5.0
For more information about how to create custom number formats in Microsoft Excel, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

  custom number formats

and double-click the selected text.

Additional query words: 5.00a 5.00c 7.00a 97 XL97 XL7 XL5

Keywords: kbbug kbualink97 kbpending KB137263

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