XL: Custom Scientific Number Format Displayed Incorrectly

ID: Q137263

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you create custom scientific number formats, you may experience unexpected results.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel mentioned at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The default Scientific number format included in Microsoft Excel is "0.00E+00". This format shows one number before the decimal point and two numbers after. If you create a custom scientific number format that has more than one place indicator before the decimal point, the numbers before the decimal point may not appear as you would expect.

For example, the following table shows a number, how the number will be displayed in Microsoft Excel with the "0.00E+00" format code, how the number will be displayed with the "00.00E+00" format code, and how you might expect it to be displayed with the "00.00E+00" format code.


                      0.00E+00      00.00E+00      00.00E+00
       Number          Actual        Actual        Expected
     -------------------------------------------------------

     0.00000245       2.45E-06      02.45E-06      24.5E-07

Earlier versions of Microsoft Excel display the number as shown in the "Expected" column. Depending on the number in the cell and the number of significant digits before the decimal point in the Custom Format Code, the versions of Microsoft Excel listed in this article may or may not show the number as expected.

REFERENCES

Microsoft Excel Version 7.0

For more information about how to create custom number formats in Microsoft Excel, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text


   formatting cells, n

double-click the selected text, then double-click "Create Custom Number Formats."

Microsoft Excel Version 5.0

For more information about how to create custom number formats in Microsoft Excel, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text


   custom number formats

and double-click the selected text.

Additional query words: 5.00a 5.00c 7.00a 97 XL97 XL7 XL5


Keywords          : kbualink97 kbdta xlui xlformula 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: May 2, 1999