Microsoft KB Archive/213964

= XL2000: Negative Symbol Not the Same As Windows Regional Settings =

Article ID: 213964

Article Last Modified on 9/27/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q213964





SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, the negative symbol appears as a minus sign regardless of the Regional Settings in Control Panel.



WORKAROUND
To control the appearance of negative numbers in Microsoft Excel, use a custom number format. For example, use the following custom number format:

#,##0;"*"#,##0

NOTE: The format code #,##0 is used as an example. You can use any valid number format as long as the character you want is enclosed in quotation marks at the beginning of the second portion (after the semicolon) of the custom format.

To create a custom number format, follow these steps:  Right-click a cell. On the shortcut menu, click Format Cells. Click the Numbers tab, and then select the Custom category. In the Type box, type the character you want to use as the negative sign.

For example, if you want negative numbers to be preceded by an asterisk (*) rather by a minus sign (-), enter the following custom number format:

#,##0;"*"#,##0





STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

