Significant Figures

[daonavich hoxhies]

Hello,
I routinely get Excel files containing various numerical data. For
some of these columns of data I'd like to have them display a minimum
number of significant figures, 3 specifically.
I don't want to use the "decimal places" format as that adds decimals
to numbers which do not need them (those already containing 3
significant figures).

Essentially this is what one column of data comes in as:
..5
2.5
45.2
567
4789


I'd like to be able to Auto format this data so that it comes out as
..500
2.50
45.2
567
4,789 -- I'd also like it to add deliniation for the thousandths mark
in a number.

I've played a bit with the custom format menu using variations of _(*
#,##0.##_), but can't get my data to transfer to my liking.

Any ideas? Any idea what all of this _(* #,##0.##_) means?

Thanks for your time,
d

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Hello,
I routinely get Excel files containing various numerical data. For
some of these columns of data I'd like to have them display a minimum
number of significant figures, 3 specifically.
I don't want to use the "decimal places" format as that adds decimals
to numbers which do not need them (those already containing 3
significant figures).

Essentially this is what one column of data comes in as:
.5
2.5
45.2
567
4789


I'd like to be able to Auto format this data so that it comes out as
.500
2.50
45.2
567
4,789 -- I'd also like it to add deliniation for the thousandths mark
in a number.

I've played a bit with the custom format menu using variations of _(*
#,##0.##_), but can't get my data to transfer to my liking.

Any ideas? Any idea what all of this _(* #,##0.##_) means?

Since formats are not dynamic, and there isn't a "sig fig" format, you
can't use formatting to display significant digits. At least, not
without using event macros - post back if you're interested.

Coincidentally, was writing a page on sig figs yesterday for my web site
when I saw a post by Harlan Grove that significantly shortened my
formulae:

http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/formulae/sigfigs.html

Any idea what all of this _(* #,##0.##_) means?

See "About custom number formats" in XL help.