Preceding zeros 1

[Tunalover]

Does anyone know a setting to tell Excel to not display zeros preceding a decimal point e.g. to display 0.12 as .12? I'd like to make it a permanent change in Excel because the preceding zero is not in accordance with US practice.



Tunalover

 

[handleman]

Sorry, but, which US? Granted, I don't have experience in a lot of disciplines, but I've never come across an instance of someone preferring .12 to 0.12. The only way I know of to force Excel to drop the leading zero is to use a custom number format such as #.0. I don't think there's any way to make this be the default behavior other than forcing that format on all cells of your default template.

 

[zdas04]

Not in accordance with US Practice??????? I've seen the leading zero used in the US my whole life. I hate it when programs don't include it.

But if you want to you can define a custom format in the form "#.00" and when you pick that custom format the leading zero won't be there.

You can go into Format, Style, and modify the "Normal" style to have that "#" before the decimal, but I don't know how to apply that to the global format.

David

 

[Tunalover]

Sorry folks but I defer to the US dimensioning and tolerancing standard ASME Y14.5M-1994 which excludes the preceding zero.


Tunalover

 

[SteveGregory]

My hand calcs always show 0.xx. I think that it eliminates the possibility of overlooking a little dot preceeding a number.

 

[handleman]

I stand corrected, Tunalover. I have mostly worked with SI units during my (admittedly short) career, and I've never done an imperial drawing under ASME Y14.5M-1994. However, unless my understanding is incorrect, that "drop the leading zero" portion of the standard only applies to units of inches and only when displayed on a drawing. I'm not sure that qualifies for as sweeping a statement as "common US practice". This next bit is pure conjecture on my part, but I would guess that the reason for dropping the leading zero for inch dimensions less that 1 is simply to save space and prevent crowding on tolerances, etc. Since millimeters are so much smaller than inches the leading zero can be preserved without sacrificing paper space or precision.

I do always use the leading zero, even in hand calculations because it adds clarity and makes it harder to accidentally miss the decimal point, especially if I think someone else may need to read it later. What are the benefits of dropping that leading zero?

 

[StephenA]

I always use 0.xx. It also eliminates the potential thought of "Did he / she miss out a number?" e.g. wrote .12 and meant 2.12

 

[meintsi]

<<< ... a permanent change in Excel because the preceding zero is not in accordance with US practice.>>>

Huh ???? .... since when??????

As far as ASME Y14.5M-1994, you are correct, but in the world of science & mathematics ....

"from the Style Guidelines for the Journal of Regional Science"

Decimal fractions less than 1.00 use an initial zero if the quantity being measured can exceed 1.00. If the quantity never exceeds 1.00, as in levels of significance, probabilities, and correlation coefficients, no preceding zero should be used.

Remember...
[navy]"If you don't use your head,[/navy]
[navy]your going to have to use your feet."[/navy]

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

I always use the preceeding zero, i.e. 0.xx

 

[MintJulep]

To actually answer the question, I think the only way is by applying a custom number format.

Format | Cells | Number

Select custom, delete the leading zero in the box.

 

[cummings54]

Use a custom format .00

 

[HughL]

<<permanent change in Excel>>

It looks as if you can change the defaults for just about anything in new books and sheets ref.

http://www.meadinkent.co.uk/xlconfigure.htm

but long live leading zeroes.

regards Hugh

 

[TDAA]

By hand I try to remember to add the leading 0 so I can decifer my poor handwriting. My HP 48sx does not show the leading 0.

 

[StephenA]

My HP33s shows a leading zero.

 

[HughL]

Thanks for the star.