Number Formatting

You can change the way numbers, currency values, and dates are displayed throughout or create new custom formats.

To apply number formatting, select the format from the Format drop down list box.

Table 32. Formatting Categories

Option	Description
Category	Select a category for which you want to display number formats. When you select a category, the formats for that category are displayed in the Format field. To create a custom format, select Custom and enter the desired format in the Format field. Enter symbols, decimals, commas, and so on to indicate how to display the format. For example, enter 'MM/DD/YY' to display the date as `01/01/99', or enter $$#.###.00 to show two dollar signs before the number and a decimal to mark the thousands' place. When you create a custom format, it appears as a category on the machine on which it was created. If an item already has a custom format applied to it, the custom format is in read-only mode.
Format	Displays the format for the selected category. If you are creating a custom category, you can enter the desired format directly in the edit field.

Option

Description

Category

Select a category for which you want to display number formats. When you select a category, the formats for that category are displayed in the Format field. To create a custom format, select Custom and enter the desired format in the Format field. Enter symbols, decimals, commas, and so on to indicate how to display the format. For example, enter 'MM/DD/YY' to display the date as `01/01/99', or enter $$#.###.00 to show two dollar signs before the number and a decimal to mark the thousands' place. When you create a custom format, it appears as a category on the machine on which it was created. If an item already has a custom format applied to it, the custom format is in read-only mode.

Format

Displays the format for the selected category. If you are creating a custom category, you can enter the desired format directly in the edit field.

Table 33. Numeric Categories

Option	Description
Number	Sets the default format for real or integer values.
Currency	Applies currency formatting to the selected number object(s).
Percentage	Applied percentage formatting to the selected numeric object.

Table 34. Formatting Options and Descriptions

Option	Description	Example
0	Integer placeholder or zero value. If a number has an integer value in this position relative to the decimal point, the inter is displayed. Otherwise a zero is displayed.	Apply 0 to show 123. Apply 0.00 to show 123.45.
#	Integer placeholder. If a number has an integer value in this position relative to the decimal point, the integer is displayed. Otherwise, nothing is displayed.	Apply #,##0 to show 1,234.
()	Formats with parenthesis options display negative values in parentheses. Otherwise, negative values are displayed with a minus sign.	Apply (#,###0) to show (1,234).
;	A semicolon operates as a separator between two number formats. The semicolon separates a positive integer and a negative integer.	Apply #, ##0;(#,##0) to show 1, 234 or apply (1, 234) for a negative number.
$ %	Adds the respective character to numeric values in the same position relative to the decimal point.	Apply $#,##0.00 to show $1,234.56. Apply 0% to show 3%.
m d yy	Displays month, day, and year in respective positions for date-coded information.	Apply mm dd yy to show 05 07 99
- /	Adds the respective character to date-coded values in the same position relative to variables.	Apply mm/dd/yy to show 06/23/99