I'm trying to add-subtract various numbers. One column will be nothing but
withdrawals from an account, so I want every number to be negative, so that
if I do calculations with that column, they will always show as deductions.
Is there a way I can set up the cells in that column so that any number I
type in will show as a negative number, ie. a -xx? I can simply type in a
hyphen before, I know, but I like to type fast without even thinking about
that extra and somewhat difficult (for me) key-stroke. Thanks.

dc

One option once you've entered all the numbers as positive is to put -1 in a
spare cell, select and copy, the select your column, edit/ paste special/
multiply.

If you just want that column to display as if they were negative numbers,
you could format as "-"General, and then when you want to do calculations
from that column you could subtract instead of adding.
--
David Biddulph

"DeeDeeCee" wrote in message
...

I'm trying to add-subtract various numbers. One column will be nothing but
withdrawals from an account, so I want every number to be negative, so
that
if I do calculations with that column, they will always show as
deductions.
Is there a way I can set up the cells in that column so that any number I
type in will show as a negative number, ie. a -xx? I can simply type in a
hyphen before, I know, but I like to type fast without even thinking about
that extra and somewhat difficult (for me) key-stroke. Thanks.

dc

Mon, 3 Sep 2007 01:50:07 -0700 from DeeDeeCee
:

I'm trying to add-subtract various numbers. One column will be nothing but
withdrawals from an account, so I want every number to be negative, so that
if I do calculations with that column, they will always show as deductions.
Is there a way I can set up the cells in that column so that any number I
type in will show as a negative number, ie. a -xx?

Yes, with custom formatting, but I recommend against it. When you see
a column of negative numbers, sooner or later you'll type a minus
sign in front of one of them and then your computation will give a
wrong result.

--
"First prove what you're saying, then whine about it."
-- /The People's Court/
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/

I know I'm a day late here but if you're still watching............

You could use event code to change the typed numbers to real negatives as you
enter them.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Excel.Range)
'change a number to negative
If Target.Column < 2 Then Exit Sub
If Not IsNumeric(Target.Value) Then Exit Sub
If Not Left(Target.Value, 1) = "-" Then
Application.EnableEvents = False
With Target
.Value = .Value * -1
End With
End If
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

This is sheet event code. Right-click on the sheet tab and "View Code".

Copy/paste into that sheet module.

As written it operates on column 2(B) only. Adjust to suit column number.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Mon, 3 Sep 2007 01:50:07 -0700, DeeDeeCee
wrote:


I'm trying to add-subtract various numbers. One column will be nothing but
withdrawals from an account, so I want every number to be negative, so that
if I do calculations with that column, they will always show as deductions.
Is there a way I can set up the cells in that column so that any number I
type in will show as a negative number, ie. a -xx? I can simply type in a
hyphen before, I know, but I like to type fast without even thinking about
that extra and somewhat difficult (for me) key-stroke. Thanks.

dc

Thanks to all 3; I got useful info from each.

ddc


"Gord Dibben" wrote:

I know I'm a day late here but if you're still watching............

You could use event code to change the typed numbers to real negatives as you
enter them.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Excel.Range)
'change a number to negative
If Target.Column < 2 Then Exit Sub
If Not IsNumeric(Target.Value) Then Exit Sub
If Not Left(Target.Value, 1) = "-" Then
Application.EnableEvents = False
With Target
.Value = .Value * -1
End With
End If
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

This is sheet event code. Right-click on the sheet tab and "View Code".

Copy/paste into that sheet module.

As written it operates on column 2(B) only. Adjust to suit column number.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Mon, 3 Sep 2007 01:50:07 -0700, DeeDeeCee
wrote:


I'm trying to add-subtract various numbers. One column will be nothing but
withdrawals from an account, so I want every number to be negative, so that
if I do calculations with that column, they will always show as deductions.
Is there a way I can set up the cells in that column so that any number I
type in will show as a negative number, ie. a -xx? I can simply type in a
hyphen before, I know, but I like to type fast without even thinking about
that extra and somewhat difficult (for me) key-stroke. Thanks.

dc