Working with custom number formats

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Working with custom number formats

Whenever required, you can also define and apply your own number formats in the dialog box of the command group Number on the ribbon tab Home.

Defining and applying a new number format

To create a new user-defined number format, proceed as follows:

1.Select the table cells that you want to apply the new number format to.
2.On the ribbon tab Home | group Number, click on the group arrowgroup_arrow in the bottom right corner to open the dialog box, and switch to the Number format tab.
3.In the Category list, choose Custom.
4.Click into the edit control below Format.
5.Enter a text string that specifies the desired number format.
For a list of available format codes, see Structure of a custom number format.
6.Confirm with OK.

The number format is created (and also applied to the currently selected cells).

Tip: If you want to create a new number format that is similar to one of the built-in number formats, the following tip can save you a lot of work: After opening the dialog box, first click on the desired built-in number format in the Categories list. This will transfer the corresponding format codes into the edit control for the format codes (step 5.). All you have to do is make your desired changes, and you're done.

Applying a user-defined number format

Once created, a user-defined number format can be applied to as many other cells as you like. Proceed as follows:

1.Select the desired table cells.
2.Open the dialog box on the ribbon tab Home | group Numbergroup_arrow and switch to the Number format tab.
3.In the Category list, choose Custom.
4.In the Format list, all user-defined number formats for the current document are displayed. Choose the desired format.
5.Confirm with OK.

The number format will now be applied to the selected cells.

Deleting a user-defined number format

If there's a number format that you don't want to keep anymore, you can delete it anytime. Proceed as follows:

1.Open the dialog box on the ribbon tab Home | group Numbergroup_arrow and switch to the Number format tab.
2.In the Category list, choose Custom.
3.In the Format list, choose the format to be deleted.
4.Click on the Delete button.
5.Close the dialog box (preferably using the Cancel button, since clicking OK would apply the currently selected format to the current cell).

Note: The Delete button is available only for user-defined number formats. You cannot delete any of the built-in number formats.