Formatting cells and getting pound signs

I am using Excel 2003 with all updates as of 4/28/04 and trying to format a cell using the custom category and choosing the #,##0.00 type.

I am trying to add the $ symbol at the beginning of the type and add text at the end of the type to look like this $#,##0.00 "text".

When I do this however it shows up in my cell on my worksheet as ##########. It does know what the value is and shows as I would expect it to when I place mouse over cell in a balloon.

If I use only the $ symbol befor the type it shows fine. If I use only the "text" after the type is shows fine. Using them together does not show anything but ######### in the cell.

My question is why is this happening? I looked and looked to no avail and can only assume that when I get a response it will be a simple fix that I am either missing something simple or it is related somehow to a config setting that I have missed.

Thanks in advance,

Newtek

Just an update to my post. I am using a workbook created for MS Press MS Office 2K3 step by step. I am able to open a new workbook and insert the same format into a cell and have no issues and it displays correctly. So I imagine that there is something with the workbook created by MS Press that is configed improperly or a setting of sorts that needs to be changed?

I still however am searching for the resolution.

Newtek

Newtek, the pound signs mean that the column isn't wide enough to display
the data. Widen the column. (One way: Pull down the Format Menu and select
Column, then Width. Enter a number like 25 in the Column Width dialog box,
then OK.).
--
DDM
"DDM's Microsoft Office Tips and Tricks"
www.ddmcomputing.com


"Newtek" wrote in message
...
I am using Excel 2003 with all updates as of 4/28/04 and trying to format
a cell using the custom category and choosing the #,##0.00 type.

I am trying to add the $ symbol at the beginning of the type and add text
at the end of the type to look like this $#,##0.00 "text".

When I do this however it shows up in my cell on my worksheet as
##########. It does know what the value is and shows as I would expect it to
when I place mouse over cell in a balloon.

If I use only the $ symbol befor the type it shows fine. If I use only the
"text" after the type is shows fine. Using them together does not show
anything but ######### in the cell.

My question is why is this happening? I looked and looked to no avail and
can only assume that when I get a response it will be a simple fix that I am
either missing something simple or it is related somehow to a config setting
that I have missed.

Thanks in advance,

Newtek

you may also want to try formulating the cell to "Text" by
right clicking, choose format cells, Number tab, in the
list choose "text"
that way what you type in the cell will be exactly what
you typed
otherwise excel may get confused and try to auto format as
currency or otherwise


-----Original Message-----
Newtek, the pound signs mean that the column isn't wide
enough to display
the data. Widen the column. (One way: Pull down the
Format Menu and select
Column, then Width. Enter a number like 25 in the Column
Width dialog box,
then OK.).
--
DDM
"DDM's Microsoft Office Tips and Tricks"
www.ddmcomputing.com


"Newtek" wrote in message
...
I am using Excel 2003 with all updates as of 4/28/04
and trying to format
a cell using the custom category and choosing the
#,##0.00 type.

I am trying to add the $ symbol at the beginning of the
type and add text
at the end of the type to look like this $#,##0.00 "text".

When I do this however it shows up in my cell on my
worksheet as
##########. It does know what the value is and shows as I
would expect it to
when I place mouse over cell in a balloon.

If I use only the $ symbol befor the type it shows
fine. If I use only the
"text" after the type is shows fine. Using them together
does not show
anything but ######### in the cell.

My question is why is this happening? I looked and
looked to no avail and
can only assume that when I get a response it will be a
simple fix that I am
either missing something simple or it is related somehow
to a config setting
that I have missed.

Thanks in advance,

Newtek


.

#### signs could also mean you have negative times or dates in the cells.

If this is not the case, format the cells to "General" rather than "Text".

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 08:39:45 -0700, "Victim of Office Hand-Me-Downs"
wrote:

you may also want to try formulating the cell to "Text" by
right clicking, choose format cells, Number tab, in the
list choose "text"
that way what you type in the cell will be exactly what
you typed
otherwise excel may get confused and try to auto format as
currency or otherwise


-----Original Message-----
Newtek, the pound signs mean that the column isn't wide
enough to display
the data. Widen the column. (One way: Pull down the
Format Menu and select
Column, then Width. Enter a number like 25 in the Column
Width dialog box,
then OK.).
--
DDM
"DDM's Microsoft Office Tips and Tricks"
www.ddmcomputing.com


"Newtek" wrote in message
...
I am using Excel 2003 with all updates as of 4/28/04
and trying to format
a cell using the custom category and choosing the
#,##0.00 type.

I am trying to add the $ symbol at the beginning of the
type and add text
at the end of the type to look like this $#,##0.00 "text".

When I do this however it shows up in my cell on my
worksheet as
##########. It does know what the value is and shows as I
would expect it to
when I place mouse over cell in a balloon.

If I use only the $ symbol befor the type it shows
fine. If I use only the
"text" after the type is shows fine. Using them together
does not show
anything but ######### in the cell.

My question is why is this happening? I looked and
looked to no avail and
can only assume that when I get a response it will be a
simple fix that I am
either missing something simple or it is related somehow
to a config setting
that I have missed.

Thanks in advance,

Newtek


.

Thanks all for the responses as I knew this would be something simple and I was simply missing it.

DDM thanks for the answer as it was simply the column width and nothing more. I now know that if I run into this situation again that I will first widen columns hehe.

I have long lagged behind learning excel in pursuit of funner entertainment lol, and now am enjoying creating my movie spreadsheets and will be on my way to the access side of things to create a movie database lol.

Thanks again all,

Newtek