I have tried the regional custom settings but the "apply" section is shaded
and inoperative. However the settings show negative numbers in brackets but
when I go to Excel all it does is show minus signs !! It is so terribly
frustrating.

Unless your worksheet is locked by someone else for editing you should
be able to just select the column or rows you want to change and then
right click and format cells. In the number tab select number. You
should see all the options there that will do what you need.

From your post thats all I can tell.


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The only options offered are minus signs and minus signs in red. No brackets
with numbers are offered

"Backdoor Cover" wrote:


Unless your worksheet is locked by someone else for editing you should
be able to just select the column or rows you want to change and then
right click and format cells. In the number tab select number. You
should see all the options there that will do what you need.

From your post thats all I can tell.


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"Frustrated of Great Yarmouth" wrote:

I have tried the regional custom settings but the "apply" section is shaded
and inoperative. However the settings show negative numbers in brackets but
when I go to Excel all it does is show minus signs !! It is so terribly
frustrating.

Sorry about the mix up with my previous posting.

To put negative amounts in brackets do the following:

Hightlight the cell your working in.
Format
Cells
Custom
Type the following in the space at the top: 0.00_);(0.00)

You will now be able to show negative amounts in brackets in that cell only.

Regards

Jeff Beecham Colchester






"Frustrated of Great Yarmouth" wrote:

I have tried the regional custom settings but the "apply" section is shaded
and inoperative. However the settings show negative numbers in brackets but
when I go to Excel all it does is show minus signs !! It is so terribly
frustrating.

or if you want red and you want thousands separated by a comma
#,##0.00_);[Red](#,##0.00)
#,###.00_);[Red](#,###.00)

What version of Excel and in what language are you using?
You might want to feed a search into Google like since I don't
remember where the problem was I'll leave the exact search to you
excel 2000 accounting format* parenthes* French
There might be a setting you can use that solves the problem.

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/formula.htm#comma
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HTH,
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Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"Jeff Beecham" wrote in message ...
Sorry about the mix up with my previous posting.

To put negative amounts in brackets do the following:

Hightlight the cell your working in.
Format
Cells
Custom
Type the following in the space at the top: 0.00_);(0.00)

You will now be able to show negative amounts in brackets in that cell only.

Regards

Jeff Beecham Colchester






"Frustrated of Great Yarmouth" wrote:

I have tried the regional custom settings but the "apply" section is shaded
and inoperative. However the settings show negative numbers in brackets but
when I go to Excel all it does is show minus signs !! It is so terribly
frustrating.

I totally agree!!! This problem has been extant for years and Microsoft
cannot be ignorant of it. I, too , have tried every which way to display
negatives numbers in red and in brackets. It's a snap in Quattro Pro and in
Lotus. For crying out loud, MS, FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!

"Frustrated of Great Yarmouth" wrote:

I have tried the regional custom settings but the "apply" section is shaded
and inoperative. However the settings show negative numbers in brackets but
when I go to Excel all it does is show minus signs !! It is so terribly
frustrating.