A Dollar is a Dollar? Not with Excel.

Type the following numbers in a column: 1000, 2000, 3000.

Change the number 1000 to Currency format:

Format -> Cells -> Currency -> OK

Change the number 2000 to Accounting format:

Format -> Cells -> Accounting -> OK

Now, change the column width to 12:

Format -> Columns -> Width -> 12 -> OK

Notice the $ symbol before the number 1000 is next to the first number, while the $ symbol before the number 2000 is not next to the first number, but next to the left-cell border.

Now, here is the twist. The Currency format category in the Format Cells dialog box is not the same as the Currency Style on the Formatting Toolbar.

Click on the number 3000, then click the $ symbol on the Formatting Toolbar. The $ symbol is next to the left border of the cell, which is the Accounting format. Go figure. Kind of like finding the Shutdown command in the Start button.

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Originally posted 2010-12-08 23:14:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter