Some links on Excel format strings
Posted by jpluimers on 2022/01/25
In Get Formatted Value of Cell in Excel – Stack Overflow, I focused on the =TEXT function, then indicated I would look into Excel format strings later.
Below are just a few links and a very short description as hopefully later I will have more time to dig into this.
The basic format is this (where all bits other than Format1 are optional):
[Locale]Format1;Format2;Format3;Format4
For now this is for my link archive:
- [Wayback] Excel number format strings (e.g. “@”, “$-409]d-mmm-yy;@”) – Complete reference availability? – Stack Overflow has two answers of which the second one is deleted, but very useful:
- Here’s a list of the Number Format Codes for Excel.
- Second option for link: Ecma-376 4th Edition Part 1, Section 18.8.31
- If you are looking for the international number codes try at http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/excel-help/creating-international-number-formats-HA001034635.aspx
- Here’s a list of the Number Format Codes for Excel.
- The
HA001034635link has disappeared, which is a pity as it explains the localisation; luckily two forms of the URL have been saved where[Locale]is constructed like this example (all Locale digits are hexadecimal):
[$-24050412]m/d/yyIn the preceding example:24is the numeral shape component (Korean 1).
05is the calendar type component (Korean (Tangun era)).
0412is the locale and language designation component (Korean). - More
[Locale]information is explained in [Wayback] What does the 130000 in Excel locale code [$-130000] mean? – Stack Overflow by [Wayback] User IrwinAllen13 – Stack Overflow and has more calendar formats than the above Microsoft links. - [Wayback] Number format codes – Excel for Mac has the base and sort of explains what the
@is for: the content of the cell.
First the base:
When you create custom number formats, you can specify up to four sections of format code. These sections of code define the formats for
- positive numbers,
- negative numbers,
- zero values, and
- text,
in that order. The sections of code must be separated by semicolons (
;).The following example shows the four types of format code sections.
Format for positive numbers
Format for negative numbers
Format for zeros
Format for textThen on on specifying less than 4 sections:
- If you specify only one section of format code, the code in that section is used for all numbers.
- If you specify two sections of format code, the first section of code is used for positive numbers and zeros, and the second section of code is used for negative numbers.
- When you skip code sections in your number format, you must include a semicolon for each of the missing sections of code.
- You can use the ampersand (&) text operator to join, or concatenate, two values.
Then on the
@sign (which is under “Text and spacing”):To create a number format that includes text that is typed in a cell, insert an “at” sign (@) in the text section of the number format code section at the point where you want the typed text to be displayed in the cell.
…
For example, to include text before the text that’s typed in the cell, enter “gross receipts for “@ in the text section of the number format code.
Finally it explains how to colorise the formatting or hide particular values under “Decimal places, spaces, colors, and conditions”:
The color code must be the first item in the code section.
[Black] [Blue] [Cyan] [Green] [Magenta] [Red] [White] [Yellow]…
Hiding various values:
To hide Use this code Zero values 0;–0;;@All values ;;;(three semicolons) - [Wayback] ECMA-376 – Ecma International where Ecma-376 4th Edition Part 1, Section 18.8.31 is supposed to have format strings (will dig into this later)
Office Open XML file formats – This Standard defines Office Open XML’s vocabularies and document representation and packaging
- [Wayback] ECMA-376, Part 1
- Not sure where Part 2 is
- [Wayback] ECMA-376, Part 3
- [Wayback] ECMA-376, Part 4
- Not sure where Part 5 is
Below a few screenshots while experimenting.
The first one shows the formulas, the second one the content. The Date value cells shows the values when entered as shown; the Date formatted cells are all formatted with yyyy-mm-dd;@ formatting.
I still need to figure out why using a =TEXT function shows #VALUE! whereas using cell formatting just a bunch of ############### (15 times a #, not sure if that is always the same number).
–jeroen
The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 
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