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’re 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.
To apply a cell format:
1
Select the cell or cells.
2
Click Inspector in the toolbar, and then click the Table button to open the
Table inspector.
3
Click Format in the Table inspector.
4
Choose a format from the Cell Format pop-up menu.
To learn how to choose which format to use for your purposes, see “Table Cell
Formats” on page 178.
For detailed instructions about setting options for each type of format, see the topic
specific to the format type you’re interested in applying.
To remove cell formatting from a cell:
Apply the automatic format.
m
To delete the value and the formatting, choose Edit > Clear All.
m
After you define a cell format, you can associate the format with multiple cells by using
autofilling. See “Autofilling Table Cells” on page 165 for instructions.
To add a value to an empty cell that has a format, select the cell and enter a value. The
format is applied when you leave the cell.
Table Cell Formats
Following is a detailed description of table cell formats.
178
Chapter 10
Using Tables
Chapter 10
Using Tables
179
Use this cell format
When you want to
Learn more here
automatic
Automatically format content
based on the characters it
contains (no special formatting)
“Applying the Automatic Format
to Table Cells” on page 179
number
Format the display of a
number’s decimal places,
thousands separator, and
negative values
“Applying a Number Format to
Table Cells” on page 180
currency
Format the display of
monetary values
“Applying a Currency Format to
Table Cells” on page 181
percentage
Display numeric values followed
by the % symbol
“Applying a Percentage Format
to Table Cells” on page 181
date and time
Format how date and time
values are displayed
“Applying a Date and Time
Format to Table Cells” on
page 182
duration
Format the display of week,
day, hour, minute, second, and
microsecond values
“Applying a Duration Format to
Table Cells” on page 182
fraction
Format the display of any part
of a value smaller than 1
“Applying the Fraction Format
to Table Cells” on page 183
numeral system
Format the display of numbers
using the conventions of a
particular numeral system (such
as decimal or binary)
“Applying a Numeral System
Format to Table Cells” on
page 183
scientific
Format the display of numbers
using an exponent raised by the
power of 10
“Applying the Scientific Format
to Table Cells” on page 184
text
Display cell content exactly as
you type it
“Applying the Text Format to
Table Cells” on page 184
custom
Define your own cell format.
“Creating a Custom Number
Format” on page 185