Microsoft KB Archive/27515

Aligning Numbers Formatted with “$” in Excel PSS ID Number: Q27515 Article last modified on 02-26-1993 PSS database name: W_eXceL

2.00 2.10 3.00 | 2.20 2.21 3.00

WINDOWS | OS/2

Summary:

When entering numbers formatted with a “$" sign, the numbers with a "$ ” sign are not aligned with the numbers without a “$” sign.

More Information:

The standard dollar formats from the Format Number list box (accessed by selecting Number from the Format menu) contain a space as the rightmost character for positive numbers for the purpose of aligning them with negative numbers that are formatted with parentheses.

Workarounds
The following are two workarounds to correct this problem:

  If you are using Excel 2.XX, change the General format (used on the numbers without a “$”) to the following 00.00_ where the &quot;_&quot; represents a space. If you are using Excel 3.00, change the General format (used on the numbers (without a “$”) to the following 00.00_) where, in this case, the &quot;_&quot; represents an underscore. This will create a space at the end of the number which is exactly the same size as a close parenthesis. -or-   Change the “$” formatted style by deleting the space located as the rightmost character of the positive numbers. For example, change $#,##0.00 ;($ #,##0.00) – The format as it appears in the dialog box to the following: $#,##0.00;($ #,##0.00) – The custom format after deleting the space 

The second method will not align the negative numbers containing “$" with the positive numbers containing "$ ”.

The first method is the best alternative if you are using Excel version 3.00.

Additional reference words: 2.00 2.0 2.01 2.1 2.10 2.2 2.21 2.20 3.00 3.0

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.