Possible to change the default cell format?

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Mike C - 18 Feb 2008 03:38 GMT

Hello - I am constantly changing the format of my cells (when they are
the number format) to include the comma separator and to use zero
decimal places.

Is there a way to change the settings so that by default the values
will not have decimal places (and by default they will have the comma
separator?

Thanks for any suggestions!

(FYI, I considered creating a simple macro to do this, but I believe
that it would limit me from being able to use the UNDO command as
often as I would like).

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Gord Dibben - 18 Feb 2008 04:42 GMT

To address the "default" number format, you would have to use a template as your
default workbook/worksheet.

Open a new workbook. Customize cells as you wish with your number format.

File>Save As Type: scroll down to Excel Template(*.XLT) and select. Name your
workbook "BOOK"(no quotes). Excel will add the .XLT to save as BOOK.XLT.

Store this workbook in the XLSTART folder usually located at........

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

This will be the default workbook for File>New or the Toolbar button File>New or
CTRL + n

WARNING................Do not use File>New...Blank Workbook or you will get the
Excel default workbook.

NOTE: Existing workbooks are not affected by these settings.

You can also open a new workbook and delete all but one sheet. Customize as
you wish then save this as SHEET.XLT in XLSTART folder also. It now becomes
the default Insert>Sheet.

More can be found on this in Help under "templates"(no quotes).

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

>Hello - I am constantly changing the format of my cells (when they are
>the number format) to include the comma separator and to use zero
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>that it would limit me from being able to use the UNDO command as
>often as I would like).

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Klemen25 - 18 Feb 2008 11:04 GMT

Great- I was also looking for something like this- just that I needed
it to change the default colors of my charts that need to be in
company defined colors. (Under tools- options-colors)

Thank you a lot!

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Dave Peterson - 18 Feb 2008 12:13 GMT

Remember that dates and times are numbers to excel.

You may find that you don't want to do this if you enter lots of dates/times.

> Hello - I am constantly changing the format of my cells (when they are
> the number format) to include the comma separator and to use zero
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> that it would limit me from being able to use the UNDO command as
> often as I would like).

Signature

Dave Peterson

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Mike C - 22 Feb 2008 03:36 GMT

> Remember that dates and times are numbers to excel.
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Dave Peterson

thanks Dave. Good point

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