Alignment for numbers formatted "Accounting"

[AntBlabby8]

We like to use the Accounting Format because it shows zeros as dashes which is much cleaner. The problem, however, is when we want to CENTER the data and it will only align to the right of the cell, regardless of changing the Alignment to Center or anything else. Is there a format to get a dash for zero that will let us center, or is there a way to use the Accounting Format and still be able to CENTER it??? THANKS!

 

[Richard Schollar]

Hello Joan

If you select one of your cells formatted in Accounting and go Format>Cells>Number tab and then click on the Custom category, you will see how your format is built up. It will be something like the following:

_($* #,##0.00_);_($* (#,##0.00);_($* "-"??_);_(@_)

It is the "* " (asterisk followed by a space - ignore the quotes) in the number format that prevents you from centering. However, if you customise by removing the asterisk then I'm afraid your currency symbol won't remain left-aligned in the cell. If you can live without the currency symbol then something like:

0.00;-0.00;"-"

will suffice, and you can easily center this in the cell yourself.

 

[AntBlabby8]

It worked! We actually use Accounting WITHOUT the $ sign, so this was the PERFECT solution! Mr. Excel experts do it again! Bravo, Bravo!