Padding Number Format with Spaces

[Jeffrey Mahoney]

Is there a number format or conditional formatting that can pad any alphanumeric value with spaces? I create a lot of Excel Forms. I want the empty cell to display as underline and I want the underline to show the full width of the cell. I know I can put spaces in the cell and it will show the underline. When a user enters a number or text in a cell, only the characters show underline. I have tried this number format:
General" "
It works when a number is entered into the cell, but not with text.

Jeff

 

[Joe4]

It works when a number is entered into the cell, but not with text.

That is correct. Formatting only applies to numeric entries, not text ones (and alphanumeric entries would be considered text entries).
I think what you want to do would probably require VBA.

 

[Jeffrey Mahoney]

The two alternatives are 1) putting a Line shape below the text (once the sheet is locked the shape can't be selected or moved). 2) Using VBA to add the spaces at the end (more complicated). Using borders is not an option because the line merges right into the next cell and doesn't look like an underline.

 

[Joe4]

I probably opt for the second option.

Personally, I despise Excel forms. They are so cumbersome to work with. Give me an Access form any day, where you can "bind" the form to a Table or Query, so you do not need to explicitly map every field and value in VBA!