Microsoft KB Archive/23417

Fixed Formatting Versus Rounding PSS ID Number: Q23417 Article last modified on 08-16-1988 PSS database name: D_MPlan

1.x 2.x 3.x

MS-DOS

Question: I have formatted my cell to be a fixed value to the second decimal place and entered a number with three decimal places, but when I read the value in the lower left corner of the screen I see that the true value is still taken to three decimal places, even though it is displayed on the screen as a number rounded to the second decimal place. What must I do to get Multiplan to truly round this number to the second decimal place?

Response: If you want to “round” a number to the second decimal place you have to use the round function in conjunction with the value itself. For example, round(3.4562) returns the value 3.46. Formatting a cell to be fixed is for display purposes only. If you format a cell with the value 3.456 to be fixed to the second decimal place, it will display on the screen as 3.46 but the value is really still 3.456 for any mathematical purposes. You should use the round function to round a number to any decimal place you like. In other examples, if R1C1 has 34.565 and in R2C1 you have the formula round(R1C1,2), the value in R2C1 will be 34.57. Multiplan rounds values from 5 to 9 “up.” 1-4 will be rounded down. If the value of R1C1 is as follows:

34.561 the function in R2C1 will yield 34.56 34.562 the function in R2C1 will yield 34.56 34.563 the function in R2C1 will yield 34.56 34.564 the function in R2C1 will yield 34.56 34.565 the function in R2C1 will yield 34.57 34.566 the function in R2C1 will yield 34.57 34.567 the function in R2C1 will yield 34.57 34.568 the function in R2C1 will yield 34.57 34.569 the function in R2C1 will yield 34.57

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1988.