Note If you enter a large decimal number in General format, the number is either rounded to fit the column width, displayed as scientific notation, or displayed as *** (asterisks) until you widen the column.
The table below shows the same number formatted in different ways.
In this format... | 1234.567 appears as |
General | 1234.567 |
Fixed | 1234.57 |
Comma | 1,234.57 |
Scientific | 1.23E+003 |
Percent | 123456.70% |
A number gets formatted automatically if you enter it using a time format or a percent sign. For example, if you enter 12:31:57, the worksheet automatically assigns a time format (23:59:57) to that cell, but if you enter 12/31/97, the worksheet automatically assigns a date format (12/31/97) to that cell. If you enter a plain number that is not a recognized date, time, or other format, the worksheet accepts the number using the default format (initially, General format).
When entering a date, if you enter the year as two digits, your spreadsheet interprets theyear as a year in the 20th century. For example, when you enter 4/10/56, your spreadsheet interprets this date as April 10, 1956 and enters the date number corresponding to this date. To enter a date as a 21st century date, you must enter the year explicitly as four digits; for example, April 10, 2056.
If you format a number and the cell is filled with *** (asterisks), the column is not wide enough to display the number using the format you selected.
If you enter a number in General format, but the number is displayed in scientific format, the number is too large to display in the column. To display the number, widen the column to at least one character wider than the width of the formatted number.
If the cell still displays *** (asterisks) after you widen the column, the value is invalid.