Microsoft KB Archive/182197

= The General number format rounds off real numbers in Excel =

Article ID: 182197

Article Last Modified on 1/22/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office Excel 2007
 * Microsoft Office Excel 2003
 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 2002 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q182197



SUMMARY
The General number format rounds off numbers for display if the column width is not sufficient for the display of all the decimal digits. The underlying stored value in the cell is not changed.



MORE INFORMATION
If the number is formatted in the General number format and if the column width selected is less than the width needed to display the entire number, the number is rounded off to the nearest decimal place or whole number that the column width will allow. For example:

2.86 may be rounded to 2.9 or 3

2.3 may be rounded to 2

0.3 may be rounded to 0

This effect is different of that of the other number formats, which display number signs (#) across the width of the column if the width is not sufficient to display all the decimal digits. However the number will be displayed as (#) if the column width becomes too small to display the entire number.

Even though the number format is rounded, all calculations that are based on these values use the original stored values. This is true even if the Precision As Displayed option is selected on the Calculation tab of the Options dialog box (Options on the Tools menu).

Steps to See the Column Width Rounding Behavior
  Type the following in a new worksheet:     A1: 2.3  B1:=SUM(a1:a8)  C1:  2.3   D1: =SUM(C1:C8) A2: 2.5                 C2:  2.5 A3: 2.5                 C3:  2.5 A4: 3.2                 C4:  3.2 A5: 2.7                 C5:  2.7 A6: 1                   C6:  1 A7: 2.45                C7:  2.45 A8: 2.5                 C8:  2.5 Notice the results in B1 and D1. They should both be 19.15.  Select column A. Point to Column on the Format menu and click Width. Type 2.86 for the column width and click OK.

Notice that the displayed values in column A are now rounded to the nearest whole number, but the stored values have not changed. The SUM function in cell B1 proves the underlying values of the numbers has not changed. Select cell A1.

The formula bar still shows the original value, that is, 2.3. This is true for all values in column A.

Additional query words: XL9 real rounding XL2000 xl2002 XL2007 XL2003

Keywords: kbhowto KB182197

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