Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 23, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021
Stuart uses the NumberFormat property, in a macro, to set the custom format for a cell. He sets it equal to #,##0.00_);[Red](#,##0.00), but when he later looks at it, Excel changes the format to #,##0.00;[Red]-#,##0.00.
You can set the custom format of a selection of cells in this manner:
Sub SetCells()
Selection.NumberFormat = "#,##0.00_);[Red](#,##0.00)"
End Sub
Similarly, you could set the custom format of a specific range of cells in this manner:
Sub SetCells()
Range("A1").NumberFormat = "#,##0.00_);[Red](#,##0.00)"
End Sub
Either approach sets the custom format correctly, as confirmed through testing. If the format doesn't appear as expected (and you are sure the format pattern matches what is shown above), then there are only two reasons I can think of that would cause the discrepancy. First, it is possible that other macro code is changing the custom format without your knowledge, particularly code in an event handler. Why an event handler? Because event handlers often make changes automatically, typically after cell changes or even moving from one cell to another.
The second possibility is that what you are seeing in the worksheet is not the result of the custom format, but actually the result of a conditional format. You'll need to check and possibly change the conditional formatting rules to deal with this possibility.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12941) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021.
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