Formatting Table Cell Values for Display
You can apply a format to a cell to display its value in a particular way. For example,
you can apply the currency format to cells that hold monetary values so that a
currency symbol (such as $, £, or ¥) appears in front of numbers in the cells.
When you use a cell format, you are setting only the display characteristics of a value.
When the value is used in formulas, the actual value is used, not the formatted value.
The only exception is when there are too many numbers following a decimal point, in
which case the number is rounded.
Here are ways to work with cell formats:
You apply cell formats by selecting one or more cells and then using the format bar or
m
the Cell Format pop-up menu in the Cells inspector to select the format.
To add a value to an empty cell that has a format, select the cell and enter a value.
m
The format is applied when you leave the cell.
If you delete a value from a cell with a format, the cell’s format isn’t deleted. To
m
delete the format, apply the automatic format. To delete the value and format, choose
Edit > Clear All.
After you define a cell format, you can associate the format with multiple cells by using
m
autofilling. See “Autofilling Table Cells” on page 81 for instructions.
To see the unformatted content in a cell to which formatting has been applied, select
m
the cell and view the actual value in the formula bar.
Use this cell format
When you want to
Learn more here
automatic
Automatically format content
based on the characters it
contains
“Using the Automatic Format in
Table Cells” on page 91
number
Format the display of a
number’s decimal places,
thousands separator, and
negative values
“Using the Number Format in
Table Cells” on page 92
currency
Format the display of monetary
values
“Using the Currency Format in
Table Cells” on page 93
percentage
Display numeric values followed
by the % symbol
“Using the Percentage Format in
Table Cells” on page 94
date and time
Format how date and time
values are displayed
“Using the Date and Time
Format in Table Cells” on
page 95
duration
Format the display of week,
day, hour, minute, second, and
microsecond values
“Using the Duration Format in
Table Cells” on page 96
fraction
Format the display of any part
of a value smaller than 1
“Using the Fraction Format in
Table Cells” on page 96
numeral system
Format the display of numbers
using the conventions of a
particular numeral system (such
as decimal or binary)
“Using the Numeral System
Format in Table Cells” on
page 97
scientific
Format the display of numbers
using an exponent raised by the
power of 10
“Using the Scientific Format in
Table Cells” on page 98
text
Display cell content exactly as
you type it
“Using the Text Format in Table
Cells” on page 99
cell controls (checkboxes, slider,
stepper, or pop-up menu)
Control the specific values a cell
can contain
“Using a Checkbox, Slider,
Stepper, or Pop-Up Menu in
Table Cells” on page 99
custom
Define your own cell format
“Using Your Own Formats for
Displaying Values in Table
Cells” on page 101
90
Chapter 4
Working with Table Cells
Chapter 4
Working with Table Cells
91