Changing format of numeric data to currency

If I want to deliberately use an n-dash, I use the key combination [option]-minus (the key just to the right of the "0" key). Apparently Numbers doesn't recognize this symbol is being a negative sign, so it won't format a string using it as a negative number (at least when formatted as "currency"). As noted, this is an issue when copying and pasting data from an external source, such as from an article on the web. If I replace the n-dash ("–") with an actual minus sign ("-"), the cell will properly format as a negative value with a "currency" format.

From what I can tell, a string with an n-dash in place of an actual minus sign is not interpreted by Numbers as a numeric value at all. For example, if you sum a column of values that includes a value that uses an n-dash instead of a minus sign, Numbers simply ignores that value when it calculates the sum.

I think the issue comes down to copying and pasting negative values where the source text used n-dashes instead of actual minus signs/hyphens. If I do a search-and-replace of those n-dashes so they're actual minus signs, and then reformat, the "currency" format will actually "stick."

But as usual, I have to raise a tech support issue before I can resolve it. Having been on both ends of tech support discussions (both giving and receiving such support), I've seen this time and again.

Anyway, thanks for the reply!

Actually, on further testing it appears the problem is related to negative values of the data. Formatting to currency works as expected for positive values.

I haven't tried a search-and-replace substituting a real hyphen for an n-dash by manually typing in the n-dash, but I can copy the n-dash from a text string containing one and pasting it into the find-replace dialog box, and that seems to do the trick.

Honestly, the hard part is visually distinguishing between an n-dash and a real hyphen in a spreadsheet cell. But if I run into this problem in the future and note that the issue seems to be restricted to cells with negative numerical values, replacing the n-dashes with real hyphens will be my first step.