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#1
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Sum - show negative number?
If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the
sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? |
#2
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Hi,
Are you talking about the sum in the status bar. It does display the sum as negative number as well. Govind Steve wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? |
#3
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Govind wrote:
If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? Are you talking about the sum in the status bar. It does display the sum as negative number as well. Yep, the status bar. As an example, entered -600 in one cell and +500 in the next. The status bar says Sum=100. Just played around with this a bit - apparently Excel does not recognize numbers in red as negative, unless they're also in parentheses - in spite of the fact that cell formatting provides the option of unadorned red numbers to indicate negatives. This must be some sorta bug? |
#4
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Excel does not per se recognise any format as negative numbers, it
recognises negative numbers by the fact that they are less than 0, either entered as less than zero, or as a result of a calculation. Red, and/or parentheses are just a way of showing a number in the visual presentation of that cell. You could just as easily format positive numbers with parentheses as you could negative numbers. -- HTH RP (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct) "Steve" wrote in message ... Govind wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? Are you talking about the sum in the status bar. It does display the sum as negative number as well. Yep, the status bar. As an example, entered -600 in one cell and +500 in the next. The status bar says Sum=100. Just played around with this a bit - apparently Excel does not recognize numbers in red as negative, unless they're also in parentheses - in spite of the fact that cell formatting provides the option of unadorned red numbers to indicate negatives. This must be some sorta bug? |
#5
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Not really, if you have your values showing as red with no negative sign
that is a conscious choice you have made when selecting the formats for those cells and Excel respects it. Why would you then expect Excel to put a negative sign in when using the status bar. If you make your format such that it has a negative sign as well as being red then Excel will provide a negative sign in the status bar. Your problem stems from the fact that the status bar does not have the facility to show a red font. -- Regards Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03 ------------------------------*------------------------------*---------------- It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-) ------------------------------*------------------------------*---------------- "Steve" wrote in message ... Govind wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? Are you talking about the sum in the status bar. It does display the sum as negative number as well. Yep, the status bar. As an example, entered -600 in one cell and +500 in the next. The status bar says Sum=100. Just played around with this a bit - apparently Excel does not recognize numbers in red as negative, unless they're also in parentheses - in spite of the fact that cell formatting provides the option of unadorned red numbers to indicate negatives. This must be some sorta bug? |
#6
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"Bob Phillips" wrote:
If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? Are you talking about the sum in the status bar. It does display the sum as negative number as well. Yep, the status bar. As an example, entered -600 in one cell and +500 in the next. The status bar says Sum=100. Just played around with this a bit - apparently Excel does not recognize numbers in red as negative, unless they're also in parentheses - in spite of the fact that cell formatting provides the option of unadorned red numbers to indicate negatives. This must be some sorta bug? Excel does not per se recognise any format as negative numbers, it recognises negative numbers by the fact that they are less than 0, either entered as less than zero, or as a result of a calculation. Red, and/or parentheses are just a way of showing a number in the visual presentation of that cell. That makes perfect sense - so it must mean that Excel is not capable of showing the color red in the status line? And therefore, without formatting the cell to include the minus sign or parentheses, there's no way to tell whether the Sum is positive or negative? |
#7
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"Ken Wright" wrote:
Not really, if you have your values showing as red with no negative sign that is a conscious choice you have made when selecting the formats for those cells and Excel respects it. Why would you then expect Excel to put a negative sign in when using the status bar. If you make your format such that it has a negative sign as well as being red then Excel will provide a negative sign in the status bar. Your problem stems from the fact that the status bar does not have the facility to show a red font. Ok, thanks, that explains it (posted my last message before I saw this explanation). Of course, it would be nice if there was some kinda warning or explanation when choosing that cell format option. And even better if the status bar was capable of showing the color red. |
#8
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Steve wrote:
"Ken Wright" wrote: Not really, if you have your values showing as red with no negative sign that is a conscious choice you have made when selecting the formats for those cells and Excel respects it. Why would you then expect Excel to put a negative sign in when using the status bar. If you make your format such that it has a negative sign as well as being red then Excel will provide a negative sign in the status bar. Your problem stems from the fact that the status bar does not have the facility to show a red font. Ok, thanks, that explains it (posted my last message before I saw this explanation). Of course, it would be nice if there was some kinda warning or explanation when choosing that cell format option. And even better if the status bar was capable of showing the color red. One reason I like to use plain red is that it makes the numbers easier to read, without the parentheses. A second-best option would be red with a negative sign. But that doesn't appear to be possible... |
#9
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You can create a custom format to show almost *anything* you want.
Custom format for red and minus sign: #,##0.00;[Red]-#,##0.00 And of course, you could add the parenthesis also: #,##0.00_);[Red](-#,##0.00) -- HTH, RD ============================================== Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit! ============================================== "Steve" wrote in message ... Steve wrote: "Ken Wright" wrote: Not really, if you have your values showing as red with no negative sign that is a conscious choice you have made when selecting the formats for those cells and Excel respects it. Why would you then expect Excel to put a negative sign in when using the status bar. If you make your format such that it has a negative sign as well as being red then Excel will provide a negative sign in the status bar. Your problem stems from the fact that the status bar does not have the facility to show a red font. Ok, thanks, that explains it (posted my last message before I saw this explanation). Of course, it would be nice if there was some kinda warning or explanation when choosing that cell format option. And even better if the status bar was capable of showing the color red. One reason I like to use plain red is that it makes the numbers easier to read, without the parentheses. A second-best option would be red with a negative sign. But that doesn't appear to be possible... |
#10
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"RagDyer" wrote:
Ok, thanks, that explains it (posted my last message before I saw this explanation). Of course, it would be nice if there was some kinda warning or explanation when choosing that cell format option. And even better if the status bar was capable of showing the color red. One reason I like to use plain red is that it makes the numbers easier to read, without the parentheses. A second-best option would be red with a negative sign. But that doesn't appear to be possible... You can create a custom format to show almost *anything* you want. Custom format for red and minus sign: #,##0.00;[Red]-#,##0.00 And of course, you could add the parenthesis also: #,##0.00_);[Red](-#,##0.00) Thanks, I'll give those a try. What I'd really like to be able to customize is the status bar, to show the color red or use the minus sign even though I haven't used it in the cells... |
#11
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Personally I would never do that. I work in finance and can just imagine
the havoc that would cause when people print out in black and white, as tables would appear not to add up etc because you wouldn't see the red. Regards Ken................... "Steve" wrote in message ... Steve wrote: "Ken Wright" wrote: Not really, if you have your values showing as red with no negative sign that is a conscious choice you have made when selecting the formats for those cells and Excel respects it. Why would you then expect Excel to put a negative sign in when using the status bar. If you make your format such that it has a negative sign as well as being red then Excel will provide a negative sign in the status bar. Your problem stems from the fact that the status bar does not have the facility to show a red font. Ok, thanks, that explains it (posted my last message before I saw this explanation). Of course, it would be nice if there was some kinda warning or explanation when choosing that cell format option. And even better if the status bar was capable of showing the color red. One reason I like to use plain red is that it makes the numbers easier to read, without the parentheses. A second-best option would be red with a negative sign. But that doesn't appear to be possible... |
#12
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If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format),
then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Steve wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? -- Dave Peterson |
#13
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"Ken Wright" wrote:
One reason I like to use plain red is that it makes the numbers easier to read, without the parentheses. A second-best option would be red with a negative sign. But that doesn't appear to be possible... Personally I would never do that. I work in finance and can just imagine the havoc that would cause when people print out in black and white, as tables would appear not to add up etc because you wouldn't see the red. Good point. But I have no need to print the spreadsheets, and it makes for easier screen viewing. |
#14
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Dave Peterson wrote:
If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Sounds good, but I just tried it, and there was no change in the status bar sum. Must be doing something wrong... |
#15
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I really don't know where you come up with them from <g
Bob "Dave Peterson" wrote in message ... If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Steve wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? -- Dave Peterson |
#16
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I don't understand why you wouldn't want to more or less have the "best of
both worlds", where you can have YOUR "easy to see red", and still follow convention, and include the minus and/or parenthesis. -- Regards, RD --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please keep all correspondence within the NewsGroup, so all may benefit ! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Steve" wrote in message ... "Ken Wright" wrote: One reason I like to use plain red is that it makes the numbers easier to read, without the parentheses. A second-best option would be red with a negative sign. But that doesn't appear to be possible... Personally I would never do that. I work in finance and can just imagine the havoc that would cause when people print out in black and white, as tables would appear not to add up etc because you wouldn't see the red. Good point. But I have no need to print the spreadsheets, and it makes for easier screen viewing. |
#17
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"RagDyer" wrote:
One reason I like to use plain red is that it makes the numbers easier to read, without the parentheses. A second-best option would be red with a negative sign. But that doesn't appear to be possible... Personally I would never do that. I work in finance and can just imagine the havoc that would cause when people print out in black and white, as tables would appear not to add up etc because you wouldn't see the red. Good point. But I have no need to print the spreadsheets, and it makes for easier screen viewing. I don't understand why you wouldn't want to more or less have the "best of both worlds", where you can have YOUR "easy to see red", and still follow convention, and include the minus and/or parenthesis. Well, the numbers are certainly easier to read without the parentheses. I guess the minus sign would be ok though... |
#18
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I just tried it again (I use xl2003) and when I hit that ctrl-click on the empty
cell, the number on the statusbar changed from 2 to -2 (it was negative all the time). Steve wrote: Dave Peterson wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Sounds good, but I just tried it, and there was no change in the status bar sum. Must be doing something wrong... -- Dave Peterson |
#19
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Thanks, er, I think. <vbg
Bob Phillips wrote: I really don't know where you come up with them from <g Bob "Dave Peterson" wrote in message ... If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Steve wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? -- Dave Peterson -- Dave Peterson |
#20
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It's a compliment. Off the wall thinking <bg
Bob "Dave Peterson" wrote in message ... Thanks, er, I think. <vbg Bob Phillips wrote: I really don't know where you come up with them from <g Bob "Dave Peterson" wrote in message ... If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Steve wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? -- Dave Peterson -- Dave Peterson |
#21
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I think the current (well, 1990's) terminology is "thinking out of the box".
"Off the wall thinking" is much nicer <bg. Bob Phillips wrote: It's a compliment. Off the wall thinking <bg Bob "Dave Peterson" wrote in message ... Thanks, er, I think. <vbg Bob Phillips wrote: I really don't know where you come up with them from <g Bob "Dave Peterson" wrote in message ... If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Steve wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? -- Dave Peterson -- Dave Peterson -- Dave Peterson |
#22
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"Dave Peterson" wrote in message ... I think the current (well, 1990's) terminology is "thinking out of the box". I know, and because it is so ubiquitous, I avoid it like the plague. "Off the wall thinking" is much nicer <bg. I think so too <ebg< |
#23
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Dave Peterson wrote:
If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Sounds good, but I just tried it, and there was no change in the status bar sum. Must be doing something wrong... I just tried it again (I use xl2003) and when I hit that ctrl-click on the empty cell, the number on the statusbar changed from 2 to -2 (it was negative all the time). I'm using xl2000, maybe that's why it doesn't work? |
#24
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I'm using XL2000 here and it works.
-- HTH RP (remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct) "Steve" wrote in message ... Dave Peterson wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Sounds good, but I just tried it, and there was no change in the status bar sum. Must be doing something wrong... I just tried it again (I use xl2003) and when I hit that ctrl-click on the empty cell, the number on the statusbar changed from 2 to -2 (it was negative all the time). I'm using xl2000, maybe that's why it doesn't work? |
#25
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"Bob Phillips" wrote:
If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Sounds good, but I just tried it, and there was no change in the status bar sum. Must be doing something wrong... I just tried it again (I use xl2003) and when I hit that ctrl-click on the empty cell, the number on the statusbar changed from 2 to -2 (it was negative all the time). I'm using xl2000, maybe that's why it doesn't work? I'm using XL2000 here and it works. hmmm, wonder what the heck I'm doing wrong... |
#26
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I formatted my cells by:
selecting the range format|cells|number tab Number (0 decimals) and red negative numbers. And that unused cell was formatted as General. (and I ctrl-clicked on that unused cell after selecting the other range.) Did you do anything that varied from that? If yes, explain what you did to see if anyone can duplicate it. (but try it one more time using this technique.) Steve wrote: "Bob Phillips" wrote: If I highlight several numbers in a column, Excel will indicate the sum. But it always shows that sum as a positive number, even if it's actually negative. Is there any way to change this behavior? If I selected my cells, then ctrl-clicked on an empty cell (general format), then the statusbar showed the sum in general format. Maybe you could try it as a workaround. Sounds good, but I just tried it, and there was no change in the status bar sum. Must be doing something wrong... I just tried it again (I use xl2003) and when I hit that ctrl-click on the empty cell, the number on the statusbar changed from 2 to -2 (it was negative all the time). I'm using xl2000, maybe that's why it doesn't work? I'm using XL2000 here and it works. hmmm, wonder what the heck I'm doing wrong... -- Dave Peterson |
#27
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Dave Peterson wrote:
I formatted my cells by: selecting the range format|cells|number tab Number (0 decimals) and red negative numbers. And that unused cell was formatted as General. (and I ctrl-clicked on that unused cell after selecting the other range.) Thanks Dave, this works. I think the problem was that the ctrl-click cell was not formatted as General. |
#28
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woohoo!!!
Glad you got it working. Steve wrote: Dave Peterson wrote: I formatted my cells by: selecting the range format|cells|number tab Number (0 decimals) and red negative numbers. And that unused cell was formatted as General. (and I ctrl-clicked on that unused cell after selecting the other range.) Thanks Dave, this works. I think the problem was that the ctrl-click cell was not formatted as General. -- Dave Peterson |
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