Microsoft KB Archive/96932

{| = Excel: Random Numbers in Worksheet With Fixed Decimal =
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Last reviewed: September 12, 1996

Article ID: Q96932 The information in this article applies to:
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0 and 4.0a

SYMPTOMS
When you use the Fixed Decimal option in Microsoft Excel for Windows, random values may appear in cells on your worksheet. This behavior occurs when you use the BACKSPACE key to clear the contents of a cell when the Fixed Decimal Places option is enabled.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above. This problem does not occur in later versions.

WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, do any of the following:

 Choose Clear from the Edit menu instead of using the BACKSPACE key to clear the contents of a cell. You can also use the DELETE key. -or- If you need to use the BACKSPACE key to clear the contents of a cell, disable the Fixed Decimal Places option first. To do this, choose the Workspace command from the Options menu and clear the Fixed Decimal check box. -or- Set the Places box for the Fixed Decimal option to zero places.

Note: This problem is not reproducible on every machine; it has occurred on different brands of computers, with different processors, different clock speeds, and may occur with or without math-coprocessors.