How to Create a Custom Number Format in Excel 2003 & 2007
Excel provides many formats for presenting numbers, dates, times, currencies, and other types of information involving numerals.However, if the preset formats don’t match your specifications, you can also create custom formats for specific purposes.
Sometimes you’d like to included parentheses when formatting the area codes of telephone numbers. Creating custom formats requires that you use number codes. Some of the common codes include 0 or # to stand for any digit. The represent a phone number with parentheses, you will type (000) 000-0000. In this case, we use 0’s when we want Excel to enter a 0 when the user doesn’t enter another number. When using the example above, type the numbers into the cell with the custom format. Excel will then add the dashes and parentheses on its own. To include text in the custom format, place the text in quotes, example, “Tel. #” (000) 000-0000.
How to Create a Custom Number Format in Excel 2003 and 2007
- Make sure that you are on the Home tab in the Excel 2007 Ribbon.
- Click the Number Group launcher, its the small button in the right hand corner of the number group. This will bring up the Format Cells dialog box. In Excel 2003, Select Format > Cells.
- Select the Number tab.
- Select a category with formats similar to what you want to create. Then select a format type similar to what you want to create.
- Afterwards, Select Custom from the listbox on the left. The type box should now appear in the Format Cells dialog box.
- This is where you’ll type the codes to create your custom format. If you want, you can use a period (.) for a decimal point and a comma (,) to separate thousands.
- When you are finished, click Ok.
To apply your custom format to cells, Select them in the worksheet then Right click and select Format Cells to see the dialog box. Click Custom then find and Click your custom format and then Click Ok.
Excel will correctly apply your custom number formats as long as you feed it the correct number of digits. For example, for the format #-#0#, if you type too many digits, Excel correctly places the 3 numbers starting from the right but incorrectly formats the excess digits on the left.
