Chapter 24: Using Custom Number Formats
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Note
If the cell displays a series of hash marks after you apply a number format (such as #########), it usually
means that the column isn’t wide enough to display the value by using the number format that you selected.
Either make the column wider (by dragging the right border of the column header) or change the number for-
mat. A series of hash marks also can mean that the cell contains an invalid date or time. n
Creating a Custom Number Format
When you create a custom number format, it can be used to format any cells in the workbook. You
can create as many custom number formats as you need.Figure 24.1 shows the Custom category in the Number tab of the Format Cells dialog box. Here,
you can create number formats not included in any of the other categories. Excel gives you a great
deal of flexibility in creating custom number formats.FIGURE 24.1
The Custom category of the Number tab in the Format Cells dialog box.Tip
Custom number formats are stored with the workbook in which they are defined. To make the custom format
available in a different workbook, you can just copy a cell that uses the custom format to the other workbook. n