how to set decimal tab in a column of cells

Question

texan78730 Author

Level 1

18 points

how to set decimal tab in a column of cells

I have a table with three columns (and seven rows).

The last column is for currency, and I want to set a decimal tab to align the decimal in the vertical cells.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Nov 30, 2015 5:45 PM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

131,276 points

Dec 1, 2015 8:35 AM in response to texan78730

The default cell alignment for the number, or currency data formats is right alignment. Using your values, and entering them into a column set to Number Data Format and 2 Decimals, every value aligned to the right. Clearing the column, setting the data format to Currency with 2 decimals, and re-entering your values reproduced the right-alignment.

Click on each of your cells in that column and verify that your data format is either Number or Currency. Force your decimal value to be 2. You can enter just the integer values for each cell, except the obvious negative amount.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

131,276 points

Dec 1, 2015 1:48 PM in response to texan78730

You do not type the parens around the negative values, it is a selectable representation that you choose. It is a common accounting visual.

Once you do that, everything will align properly based on your recent changes.

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Answer 3

texan78730 Author

Level 1

18 points

Dec 1, 2015 7:42 AM in response to VikingOSX

Good morning:

I had done that previously with no success. This is what it continues to look like.

Originally those figures were numbers (because I don't want the dollar sign to show).

When I changed the designation to Currency, it only made matters worse.

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Answer 4

texan78730 Author

Level 1

18 points

Dec 1, 2015 9:22 AM in response to VikingOSX

Nope. Doesn't work

Part of my problem was that I had not selected the align to right margin. (What is the A in the far right of the alignment section?)

I changed from currency to numbers with right alignment. Using integers.

This is the result

I removed the bold command with no effect.

I added the ( ) and got this:

Incidentally, the above results are were after I deleted the last two rows and added them back in fresh.

No change.

What am I doing wrong??

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Answer 5

VikingOSX

Level 10

131,276 points

Nov 30, 2015 6:16 PM in response to texan78730

You format the C (third column) cell data format as Currency, and specify 2 decimals, and optional thousands separator. The values will right-align on the decimal point.

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