Microsoft KB Archive/118601

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XL5: Currency Number Format Lost When Entering Fraction

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0

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SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, if you enter text that resembles a fraction in a cell that is formatted with a currency number format, the number format changes to a fraction format.

CAUSE
This behavior occurs when you enter fraction as text, instead of as a formula. For example, if you format the cell A1 with the "$#,##0_);($#,##0)" currency format code, and you enter the value "1/1.2" in cell A1, the format of the cell changes to the "# ?/?" Fraction format code.

Note that this behavior does not occur in Microsoft Excel version 4.0.

WORKAROUND
To avoid having the number format of a cell change when you enter a fraction, enter the fraction before you apply the number format. Note, however, that the number format will change again if you enter another fraction in the cell.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel for Windows version 5.0c.