How to align decimal points vertically in a table

[MikeL]

Published papers in a particular journal show tables in which the decimal
points of numbers are the vertical alignment reference within a column; i.e.
the decimal points fall on a vertical line through the column of data. Is
there a way to format for this or does one have to "force" the alignment
through the use of spaces, etc? Thanks

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi MikeL

One of my foremost rules for using Word is this: The space bar is for
putting spaces between words. If you're using the the space bar to position
text, you're doing something wrong.

To align numbers on the decimal point, use a decimal tab. As a test to see
how this works, type some text like this:

Green Apples[Tab]12.12
Oranges[Tab]45.45454
Bananas[Tab]1,234,343.3

Now, select all that text and do Format > Tabs. Clear any tabs that are
already showing. In the Tab Stop position type an appropriate number (for
our example, try say 5cm). Click the Decimal option and click OK.

If you're doing lots of stuff like this, or if you need borders around the
data, put the data in a Table. Use Insert > Table to create the table.
"Green Apples" goes in one cell and "12.12" goes in the next cell. Don't use
any tabs or spaces to position the text. Instead, select the whole of the
column holding the numbers and do Format > Tab to set the decimal tab for
all the cells in that column. Experiment to get the Tab Stop Position
correct.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word

 

[Pat Garard]

...............but................

'cos you're inside a Table (where [tab] will move you to the next cell)
use [CTRL]+[tab] in place of [tab]).
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia
_______________________

Hi MikeL

One of my foremost rules for using Word is this: The space bar is for putting spaces
between words. If you're using the the space bar to position text, you're doing
something wrong.

To align numbers on the decimal point, use a decimal tab. As a test to see how this
works, type some text like this:

Green Apples[Tab]12.12
Oranges[Tab]45.45454
Bananas[Tab]1,234,343.3

Now, select all that text and do Format > Tabs. Clear any tabs that are already showing.
In the Tab Stop position type an appropriate number (for our example, try say 5cm).
Click the Decimal option and click OK.

If you're doing lots of stuff like this, or if you need borders around the data, put the
data in a Table. Use Insert > Table to create the table. "Green Apples" goes in one cell
and "12.12" goes in the next cell. Don't use any tabs or spaces to position the text.
Instead, select the whole of the column holding the numbers and do Format > Tab to set
the decimal tab for all the cells in that column. Experiment to get the Tab Stop
Position correct.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word

Published papers in a particular journal show tables in which the decimal
points of numbers are the vertical alignment reference within a column; i.e.
the decimal points fall on a vertical line through the column of data. Is
there a way to format for this or does one have to "force" the alignment
through the use of spaces, etc? Thanks

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

No, you don't need to insert a tab character at all to use decimal tabs in
table cells; as soon as you insert the tab stop, the (left-aligned) text
jumps to it automagically.

..............but................

'cos you're inside a Table (where [tab] will move you to the next cell)
use [CTRL]+[tab] in place of [tab]).
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia
_______________________

Hi MikeL

One of my foremost rules for using Word is this: The space bar is for putting spaces
between words. If you're using the the space bar to position text, you're doing
something wrong.

To align numbers on the decimal point, use a decimal tab. As a test to see how this
works, type some text like this:

Green Apples[Tab]12.12
Oranges[Tab]45.45454
Bananas[Tab]1,234,343.3

Now, select all that text and do Format > Tabs. Clear any tabs that are already showing.
In the Tab Stop position type an appropriate number (for our example, try say 5cm).
Click the Decimal option and click OK.

If you're doing lots of stuff like this, or if you need borders around the data, put the
data in a Table. Use Insert > Table to create the table. "Green Apples" goes in one cell
and "12.12" goes in the next cell. Don't use any tabs or spaces to position the text.
Instead, select the whole of the column holding the numbers and do Format > Tab to set
the decimal tab for all the cells in that column. Experiment to get the Tab Stop
Position correct.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word

Published papers in a particular journal show tables in which the decimal
points of numbers are the vertical alignment reference within a column; i.e.
the decimal points fall on a vertical line through the column of data. Is
there a way to format for this or does one have to "force" the alignment
through the use of spaces, etc? Thanks

 

[Pat Garard]

Doh!

Oh!

automagically

I like...
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia
_______________________

No, you don't need to insert a tab character at all to use decimal tabs in
table cells; as soon as you insert the tab stop, the (left-aligned) text
jumps to it automagically.

..............but................

'cos you're inside a Table (where [tab] will move you to the next cell)
use [CTRL]+[tab] in place of [tab]).
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia
_______________________

Hi MikeL

One of my foremost rules for using Word is this: The space bar is for putting spaces
between words. If you're using the the space bar to position text, you're doing
something wrong.

To align numbers on the decimal point, use a decimal tab. As a test to see how this
works, type some text like this:

Green Apples[Tab]12.12
Oranges[Tab]45.45454
Bananas[Tab]1,234,343.3

Now, select all that text and do Format > Tabs. Clear any tabs that are already showing.
In the Tab Stop position type an appropriate number (for our example, try say 5cm).
Click the Decimal option and click OK.

If you're doing lots of stuff like this, or if you need borders around the data, put the
data in a Table. Use Insert > Table to create the table. "Green Apples" goes in one cell
and "12.12" goes in the next cell. Don't use any tabs or spaces to position the text.
Instead, select the whole of the column holding the numbers and do Format > Tab to set
the decimal tab for all the cells in that column. Experiment to get the Tab Stop
Position correct.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word


Published papers in a particular journal show tables in which the decimal
points of numbers are the vertical alignment reference within a column; i.e.
the decimal points fall on a vertical line through the column of data. Is
there a way to format for this or does one have to "force" the alignment
through the use of spaces, etc? Thanks

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Yeah, me, too. <g>

Doh!

Oh!

automagically

I like...
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia
_______________________

No, you don't need to insert a tab character at all to use decimal tabs in
table cells; as soon as you insert the tab stop, the (left-aligned) text
jumps to it automagically.

..............but................

'cos you're inside a Table (where [tab] will move you to the next cell)
use [CTRL]+[tab] in place of [tab]).
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia
_______________________

Hi MikeL

One of my foremost rules for using Word is this: The space bar is for putting spaces
between words. If you're using the the space bar to position text, you're doing
something wrong.

To align numbers on the decimal point, use a decimal tab. As a test

to
see how this

works, type some text like this:

Green Apples[Tab]12.12
Oranges[Tab]45.45454
Bananas[Tab]1,234,343.3

Now, select all that text and do Format > Tabs. Clear any tabs that

are
already showing.

In the Tab Stop position type an appropriate number (for our example, try say 5cm).
Click the Decimal option and click OK.

If you're doing lots of stuff like this, or if you need borders

around
the data, put the

data in a Table. Use Insert > Table to create the table. "Green

Apples"
goes in one cell

and "12.12" goes in the next cell. Don't use any tabs or spaces to position the text.
Instead, select the whole of the column holding the numbers and do Format > Tab to set
the decimal tab for all the cells in that column. Experiment to get

the
Tab Stop

Position correct.

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word


Published papers in a particular journal show tables in which the decimal
points of numbers are the vertical alignment reference within a

column;
i.e.

the decimal points fall on a vertical line through the column of

data.
Is

there a way to format for this or does one have to "force" the alignment
through the use of spaces, etc? Thanks