Why you SHOULD be USING Custom Number Formatting in Excel

Learn the basics of Excel's custom number formatting and how you can use it for best impact in your reports in this Excel tutorial:
1. The custom formatting rule
2. Practical uses of Excel's custom number formatting
3. How to hide zero values in Excel
4. Custom formatting tricks
5. The proper way to add text to numbers so that values can still be used in formulas

If you have a choice between custom formatting or conditional formatting - always go with custom formatting. Processing times are faster with custom formatting. Conditional formatting is volatile.

📊 Key Learning Points:
- Thousand Separator & Zero Decimals: Learn to format numbers with thousands separators and control decimal points.
- Blending Zero Values: Discover how to hide zero values without deleting them, maintaining your data's integrity.
- Custom Formatting Rules: Understand the four-part rule of custom formatting for positive, negative, zero, and text values.
- Placeholder Differences: Differentiate between the pound sign and zero as placeholders and their impact on data display.
- Innovative Text Formatting: Incorporate custom text into numerical data without altering the underlying values, perfect for reports and summaries.

Many thanks to Michael for writing the detailed blog post and creating the Workbook so we can understand custom formatting better!

🚩Let’s connect on social:

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#excel

[theofficialseries]

Awesome I think no one exist like you. You & your videos are stupendous.
I'm pleased to watch your video.

[alinaroginska]

I just need to say that, Leila you are my hero!! I keep surprising my bosses with my reports all thanks to your videos! Love you woman!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[excelgazialimuhiddinhacibekir]

Custom Number Formatting in EXCEL had never ever been taught this effectively; it was never before made this simple even for the least tech-savvy audience. Again a masterpiece video from Leila Gharani to demystify Excel's best kept secrets.

Merci beaucoup, Leila! Cheers to Vienna!

[gercam]

I love the way she explains and teach non usual tools

[brianhayden]

Really useful to learn about the third and fourth part of a custom formatting rule (how zero values and text values are displayed). Many thanks, Leila!

[GeertDelmulle]

Super great vid! Love it! Your format is super easily accessible.
Some of the few things that I do in the Custom Format in order to change this “presentation layer’ as I call it, are:
* use colors like [Red] to change the font color;
* use a single dash “ - “ (with the spaces) to indicate a zero (logic: a zero is not the same as an empty cell — especially in formulas).

[ButuNewsone]

Thank you very much. This tutorial was very helpful. I am tasked with preparing reports with large numbers and shortcuts and custom formatting is a game changer for me. It helps especially with showing the data in a chart. Customization makes for a much cleaner report.

[brunocaron]

Thanks Leila! I’ve been following your channel for the last three months and I always find useful tips to improve my Excel skills.

[KayMuslimeen]

Absolutely helpful vid. I've always wondered how custom formating worked. Thank you Leila.

[agostinhooliveira]

Leila,


You are very good at teaching!


Always clear explanations and valuable tips.


Thank you very much!

[JimFikes]

Another great tutorial, Leila. I love your work because when I have my students what your videos they get it -- they understand. You are a great teacher.

[iainmacdonald]

Brilliant, Leila - thank you. (Your videos are always helpful, sometimes amazingly so.)

[wayneedmondson]

Hi Leila.. thanks for this great video On CNF.. another EXCEL feature that is hidden in plain sight. Your use and creativity extends it even further. Thanks for all the tips and tricks to improve my work. Thumbs up!

[gholamhosseingorgin]

Brilliant Leila, thank you so much for all your explanations! 💫

[Noob-ngof]

Leila, you're a great teacher. Thanks for the tips.

[Jono]

Leila, thank you for yet another simple explanation of something that is so very useful in day to day use!

[barttitulaerexcelbart]

Thank you Leila. I honestly did not know the difference between # and 0. I use the m2 and m3 for squared and kubik meter. To display the 2 and 3 as "superscript" you can use "alt gr- 2" or "alt gr-3" .In text cells, you can also change part of it. Select part of the content that you want to adjust and then crtl-1. Then select superscript. Looking forward to your next video. Greetings, Bart

[romanmakarchuk]

I love your channel! Great video, as always. Thank you for your work!

[rykco-gencomplex]

Nice Work, all videos are appreciable, thanks for helping others.

[josephcoon]

Your videos are so pleasing to the ear that I swear it feels like you are putting the words directly into my brain. 😂 It’s kinda like when I’m so engaged with a good book, I catch myself picturing scenes rather than reading words.

Anyhow... I just wanted to mention that in other applications, it’s called “masking.” Perhaps that will help those who are learning from your videos that are coming with skills developed in other areas.

Second, do you have a video on conditional custom formatting? It has been awhile, but there were times when I wanted the number format dynamic based on the values of another cell. I don’t remember what solution I finally went with, or if I even found what I was looking for before.

Again. A thanks for your work in spreading knowledge and wisdom!! ❤️