Question

Formatting A Negative Cell Value

Asked by: njb

Hi,
I wish to format a series of cells so that everytime I key in a number it will show as a negative number. So for example, if I key in a 5 it will show up as -5. I tried to put the fomula in as:
=*(-1) but keep getting an error message.

How can I accomplish this simple task? Thanks in advance:)
njb

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Asked On
2006-03-07 at 14:31:17ID21764533
Tags

negative

,

cell

,

value

Topic

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Software

Participating Experts
3
Points
300
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: byundtPosted on 2006-03-07 at 14:33:29ID: 16128446

Hi njb,
Try using Custom cell format
-#;-#;-0;@

Cheers!

Brad

 

by: GarrettyPosted on 2006-03-07 at 14:34:15ID: 16128456

Cell Properties > Number Tab > Custom   Type   -0;

 

by: James_VancouverPosted on 2006-03-07 at 15:32:24ID: 16128902


If you would like to have a formula to change a positive number from another cell to a negative you could use this as the formula in B1   =a1*-1

For example
     A      B     c  
1   5      -5
2
3

 

by: njbPosted on 2006-03-07 at 17:09:54ID: 16129464

Hi,
Thanks for such quick responses.  Your solutions worked but I think I now have another problem, which is that when the cell is added to an adjacent cell, it does not give the proper result. So for example if I format column B to have negative numbers when I key in a positive one:
    A      B      C
1   5     -3     8
2
3

If column C is =SUM(A1:B1), then I would like to have the result be 2 instead of  8. Is this possible, or do I have to key the -3 in longhand?

I have increased the points accordingly.


 

by: byundtPosted on 2006-03-07 at 18:12:07ID: 16129732

njb,
If you want a real negative number, then you will either need to use two cells (one for formula, the other for input)--or you could use a VBA sub for the purpose. Here is one that must be installed in the code pane for the worksheet you are entering data into. It watches cells A1:A5, A10:A15 and A20:A25 for inputs; any positive number is turned to a negative. Negative numbers, 0 and text are left alone.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim targ As Range, cel As Range
    'Enter a positive number in these cells, it will be converted to a negative number
Set targ = Union([A1:A5], [A10:A15], [A20:A30])     'Change range to suit
Set targ = Intersect(Target, targ)
If targ Is Nothing Then Exit Sub

Application.EnableEvents = False
For Each cel In targ.Cells
    If IsNumeric(cel) Then cel = -Abs(cel)
Next
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

To install a sub in the code pane for a worksheet:
1) Right-click the sheet tab for the worksheet
2) Choose View Code from the resulting pop-up
3) Paste the suggested code in the resulting module sheet
4) ALT + F11 to return to the worksheet

If the above procedure doesn't work, then you need to change your macro security setting. To do so, open the Tools...Macro...Security menu item. Choose Medium, then click OK.

Brad

 

by: njbPosted on 2006-03-10 at 09:28:28ID: 16156602

Thanks Brad, but that is too complicated for me. I guess I will just have to key-in the negative numbers in order to get the proper sum when added together.
I want to thank you all for your reponses:)
Nick

 

by: njbPosted on 2006-03-10 at 09:29:35ID: 16156610

As soon as EE gets over its technical difficulties, I will split the points.
Nick

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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