[mso] Re: Fractions and Excel 2000, how to force to *my* format?

Format> Cells > Custom

Type this:

# ?/12

Then type 8/12 in the cell

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Linda F. Johnson
Linda's Computer Stop
http://personal-computer-tutor.com


-----Original Message-----
From: mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Robert Carneal
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2007 6:14 PM
To: mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [mso] Fractions and Excel 2000, how to force to *my* format?

Hello everyone. In Excel 2000, I would like to enter some fractions. 
These are fractions of years, and census takers entered them in a way 
that is strange to most non-genealogists.

Suppose a person is eight months old at the time a census was taken. The 
enumerator would enter 8 / 12, meaning the person was less than a year 
old, but eight months old.  If I enter 8/12 in Excel, depending on the 
format, one of two things happens: Either it is translated as a date 
(Aug 12), or the operation is mathematically carried out resulting in 
0.6666666666. This isn't what I want to enter.

Say I want to enter 3/4. I enter a zero space 3/4, and "3/4" shows up. 
Great, that is wonderful.
Now suppose I want to enter 8/12. I enter zero space 8/12, and "2/3" 
comes up, which is mathematically correct, but I would rather it not 
automatically reduce the fraction. Possible to do without entering as 
text or using VBA?  I can use text just fine, just more time and typing.

Thank you.

Robert


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