Custom Format for Number Metrics

A custom number format specifies how a number metric displays in an Accolade field code in a Word or PowerPoint document, or in quick grids.

Metric values in Accolade or in Excel documents are not affected. Excel has its own number formatting capabilities. Set the number format of the cell in which a field code applies to format numbers in Accolade fields in Excel. For information about formatting numbers in an Excel document, see the Excel online Help.

A metric with a custom number format that is attached to a quick grid will only use that format if the grid cell is read only.

A custom number format creates masks or patterns that show how numbers display. If a user enters a number in Accolade that differs from the pattern, the value displays according to the pattern. For example, if a user enters 89.453 in a metric with the custom number format ##.##, the number displays in Word as 89.45. The actual value, as entered and stored in Accolade remains the same.

To create a custom number format, use the guidelines and examples in the table below and enter the format in the Number Format field when defining a number metric. Number metrics without a custom format display exactly as they are stored in Accolade.

Use the following rules and guidelines to build a custom number format.

	Characters, Notes, and Examples
To display significant digits but not insignificant zeroes.	Character: # For example: #.## displays the following: 6.357 as 6.36 125.3 as 125.3 125.300 as 125.3 0.678 as .68
To display insignificant zeroes if a number has fewer digits than there are zeroes in the format.	Character: 0 For example: 00.000 displays the following: .62 as 00.620 6.03 as 06.030 125.72000 as 125.720 Trailing zero formatting is only applicable to Portfolio Optimizer, project history, and smart documents.
To mark the location of the decimal placeholder.	Character: . (period) Enter a period for the decimal placeholder even if you are working in a region that uses a different symbol. Each user's computer displays the symbol appropriate to their selected region.
To place the location of the thousands separator	Character: , (comma) For example: #,### displays the following: 1234 as 1,234 1234.56 as 1,235 1,234 as 1,234 Enter a comma as the thousands separator even if you are working in a region that uses a different symbol. Each user's computer displays the symbol appropriate to their selected region.
To add standard text to the number format	Character: 'text"' Enclose the text in single quotation marks. Precede the currency value with a variety of currency symbols or add text. For example: #.00 'dollars' displays 17 as 17.00 dollars.
To add supported single characters	Characters: $ + ( ) : ^ ' { } < > = - / ! & ~ (and the space character) Add these characters before or after the number format without using double quotes. For example: $#,###.## displays 1234.56 as $1,234.56
To add a single characters	Character: \ Insert single characters, with some exceptions, preceding the character with a backslash (\). Excluded characters include date and time formatting characters (d, t, h, m, etc.), numeric formatting characters described above (#, 0, comma, period, etc.) and string formatting characters (@, &, <, >, and !).
To display a percentage	Character: % Enter % as the final character in the format. The value is multiplied by 100, and then the formatting rules (for # and 0, etc.) are applied. For example: #.0% displays the following: 0.4567 as 45.6% 0.45 as 45.0% 1.453 as 145.3% #.##% displays the following: 0.45678 as 45.68% 0.45 as 45% 0.456 as 45.6%

Building a Number Format with Multiple Sections

A number format can have up to three sections, separated by semi-colons.

• A one section format applies to all values. For example, $#,###.## displays positive and negative values the same way.
• In a two-section format, the first section is for positive values and zeroes, and the second section is for negative values. For example, $#,###.##; ($#,###.##) displays 16.50 as $16.50 and -16.50 as ($16.50).
• In a three-section format, the first section applies to positive values, the second to negative values, and the third to zeros. For example: $#,###.##;($#,###.##);0.00 displays zero as 0.00. In order to prevent a zero from appearing, place a single # in the third section.