Microsoft KB Archive/106150

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XL: Minus Sign Appears Before Text in Custom Number Format

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0c
 * Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2, 3.0
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.2, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 5.0a
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
 * Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
 * Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

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SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you create a custom number format that contains a text string, and you apply this format to a negative number, the text string may appear between the minus sign and the number.

WORKAROUND
To create a custom number format so that the minus sign for negative number appears directly before the number, you must include formatting specifically for negative numbers. For example, instead of using the following code

  "The value is "0.

which uses the same format for both positive and negative numbers, use the following code:

  "The value is "0.;"The value is "-0.

The section of the format after the semicolon places the minus sign to the right of the text string when the number is negative.

STATUS
This behavior is by design of the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article.