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

  • From: "David Smart" <smartware@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 19:24:04 +1000

Hmm.  An instructor with that attitude needs to be treated with the (lack 
of) respect that she certainly deserves.  It's OK to be a bit sceptical, but 
not downright unbelieving and dismissive, especially in the face of the 
evidence.

However ... although this will show the fraction in the way you want to show 
it, it will not store it in that way.  Click on a cell that is showing the 
right stuff and look at the formula bar.  For 0 8/12 it will be showing 
0.666666666666667.  This might or might not be a problem for you.

Another way to see 8/12 is to format the cell as text, and then type in your 
8/12.  It'll stay as a text string with 8/12 in it, and you can manipulate 
it as you need to.

Depends on what you need to do with it.

Regards, Dave S

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Carneal" <carnealre@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 4:00 PM
Subject: [mso] Re: Fractions and Excel 2000, how to force to *my* format?


> Linda-
>
> Get ready to pat yourself on the back. Heck, treat yourself to a glass
> of Sherry!
>
> I told my college instructor your suggestion. She (yes, she is a lady)
> said, that advice had to come from a girl. Only a girl would give a
> wrong answer. (Don't get mad, I stuck up for you. I won't go into the
> name calling, but let's just say it was profanity filled that a girl I
> had not seen would know enough to be able to give a right answer.
>
> Wellllll, she was looking over my shoulder as I tried your answer,
> repeatingly telling me it would not work. It worked. I had to work to
> keep a smirk off my face, I really wanted to gloat. Oh, I am so tempted
> to pick the most expensive place in town. Her explanation? "Your version
> of Excel is corrupted. It has to be."
>
> My point is you were nice, prompt, clear on the answer, and easy to
> understand. I am going to enjoy this dinner. Now where to go..?
>
> Robert
>
> Linda F. Johnson wrote:
>> Format> Cells > Custom
>>
>> Type this:
>>
>> # ?/12
>>
>> Then type 8/12 in the cell
>>
>> *******************************
>> 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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SHARING ONLY.

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