I have a spreadsheet I use for breaking numbers down for use in a journal
entry.
Each cell calculates a percentage of a number for me. When I ask for a
total of the columns to prove that my debits and credits are equal - I get
equal numbers; but if actually add everything in one column and then the
other the columns are not the same. Somehow the rounding makes it appear as
though it balances - then when I key the entry into my accounting software it
doesn't balance.

I'm confused as to how to control the rounding in the cells.

Take a look he

http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/pennyoff.html

In article ,
LaraHubbs wrote:

I have a spreadsheet I use for breaking numbers down for use in a journal
entry.
Each cell calculates a percentage of a number for me. When I ask for a
total of the columns to prove that my debits and credits are equal - I get
equal numbers; but if actually add everything in one column and then the
other the columns are not the same. Somehow the rounding makes it appear as
though it balances - then when I key the entry into my accounting software it
doesn't balance.

I'm confused as to how to control the rounding in the cells.

The difference you're seeing is due to the way Excel calculates a
number compared to the way it displays a number. If you divide 100 / 3
on a calculator, you get 33.3333333 with infinitely recurring threes.
If Excel performs this calculation in a cell formatted for currency,
the answer will display as $33.33. The recurring threes are still
there, but they are not displayed.

Check out the ROUND() function, which allows you to control the number
of decimal places. In this example, =ROUND(100/3,2) the answer is
33.33 with no further recurring threes.