XL98: Number Is Not Formatted as Expected with a Percentage Format

MORE INFORMATION

In earlier versions of Excel, when you format a blank cell with a percentage number format and then enter a number in that cell, the number is multiplied by 100. In Excel 98, a number is multiplied by 100 when you enter it in a cell with a percentage number format if the following conditions are true:

• The number is between 0 and 1. -and-
  
  
• You do not precede the decimal point (if present) with a zero.

The following table lists how Excel treats numbers that are entered in cells that are formatted with a percentage number format.

   Typing this         Results in this
   -----------------------------------
   32                           32.00%
   .32                          32.00%
   0.32                          0.32%
   -32                         -32.00%
				

This behavior is not documented correctly on the Number tab in the Format Cells dialog box. The following message is displayed at the bottom of the Number tab: NOTE: When you enter a number between 0 and -1 in a cell that has been formatted with a percentage number format, and you precede the entry with a minus sign, the number is not multiplied by 100. To work around this behavior, enclose negative numbers between 0 and -1 in parentheses marks. The following table contains an example.

   Typing this         Results in this
   -----------------------------------
   -.32                         -0.32%
   (.32)                       -32.00%