A106 Step-by-step: Formatting Cell Data

Microsoft Excel 4.0 for Macintosh

Excel uses the term "formatting" to mean two different things: text formatting (things like boldface and justification) and data formatting (how numbers are represented). This page deals with data formatting.

Consider the number 42. This could mean 42 dollars, 42 chickens, 42 days since some important date, or even 42 times as much fun as taking A106. It could be represented in a variety of ways:

Excel keeps a data format for each cell. By changing this, you can control how your numbers are represented.

To format cell data

1. Select the cell(s) to be formatted

If you want to format a single sell, you can either click in the cell with the mouse, or use the arrow keys.
If you want to format a whole group of cells, drag from the center of a cell at one corner of the group to the center of the cell at the opposite corner.

2. Choose a format

  1. Select Number... from the Format menu.
  2. Click on the appropriate item in the box labelled Value Type. For example, if you are representing an amount of money, pick Currency.
  3. If you want a format code other than the one highlighted, click on it in the box labelled Format Codes.
    These format codes are pretty complicated. You might be able to figure out what they mean, but if not, don't worry. If you pick the wrong one, you can always try again. You can see what your number will look like near the bottom of the dialog box, where it says Sample. (This does not show colors.)
  4. Click in the OK box.