I have recently gotten a new computer. I am running windows 2000. My
harddrive was "mirriored" from old computer also running windows 2000.
Now in excel I cannot format negative number with brackets.
Also not available under custom.
I have uninstalled and reinstalled. I am using Office 97 with an upgrade to
Office 2000 standard.

If I buy Office 2003 (not an upgrade version) will I get the brackets back??

Setting a custom option of £#,##0.00_);(£#,##0.00) seems to do what you
require. Why settings change I can't explain.

Rob

"sjtbean" wrote in message
...
I have recently gotten a new computer. I am running windows 2000. My
harddrive was "mirriored" from old computer also running windows 2000.
Now in excel I cannot format negative number with brackets.
Also not available under custom.
I have uninstalled and reinstalled. I am using Office 97 with an upgrade
to
Office 2000 standard.

If I buy Office 2003 (not an upgrade version) will I get the brackets
back??

If you just want that format to show up in the samples in format|Cells|Number
tab...

Excel picks this up from a windows setting:

Windows start button|control panel
regional and language options
regional options tab
click the customize button
currency tab
change the negative currency format to show ()'s.

sjtbean wrote:

I have recently gotten a new computer. I am running windows 2000. My
harddrive was "mirriored" from old computer also running windows 2000.
Now in excel I cannot format negative number with brackets.
Also not available under custom.
I have uninstalled and reinstalled. I am using Office 97 with an upgrade to
Office 2000 standard.

If I buy Office 2003 (not an upgrade version) will I get the brackets back??

--

Dave Peterson

If negative brackets are not available in the NumberNegative Numbers dialog.

This is a function of your Regional Settings in Windows OS.

StartSettingsControl PanelRegional and Language SettingsRegional
OptionsCustomizeCurrencyNegative Currency Format. Click on drop-down arrow
and select the ($1.1)

Note: this is under the "Currency" tab in Regional Options. Changing under
the "Numbers" tab only does not do the trick.

Apply and OKApply your way out.

NOTE: I was reminded the other day that these () are "parentheses" and not
"brackets" which are []


Gord Dibben Excel MVP

On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 12:26:02 -0700, sjtbean
wrote:

I have recently gotten a new computer. I am running windows 2000. My
harddrive was "mirriored" from old computer also running windows 2000.
Now in excel I cannot format negative number with brackets.
Also not available under custom.
I have uninstalled and reinstalled. I am using Office 97 with an upgrade to
Office 2000 standard.

If I buy Office 2003 (not an upgrade version) will I get the brackets back??

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP