Format Values and Numbers

Change Value Formatting

You can select a value formatting type for a cell to automatically use that format each time you enter data in the sheet. Cells are set to Auto by default, but entering a currency symbol or comma separator changes the format to Accounting.

To apply value formatting:

1

Select a cell or group of cells.

2

From the Edit toolbar, click the Value Formatting drop-down.

3

Select a value format to apply it to the selected cell.

Advanced Value Formats

You can also edit value formatting settings from the Formats panel.

To access the Formats panel:

1

Select a cell.

2

From the Edit toolbar, click the Value Formatting drop-down.

3

Select More Formatting Options from the menu to open the panel.

You can also open this panel by clicking the gear icon in the right panel.

The Formats panel contains different settings depending on the selected cell’s format. You can use this panel to change currency and date formatting, change accounting display settings, or add prefixes, suffixes, and leader dots.

Use Period Format and Display Options

One use of advanced formatting is the Period Display options, which allows you to use the proper ISO format for XBRL (PnYnMnD) for data entry while viewing the more common decimal number. For example, if the life left in a building is 5.7 years, the ISO format is P5Y7M12D. To display that value as a number with a decimal, use the Period Display options.

For more information about formatting decimals for XBRL, see Formatting Time Period Links - ISO Codes.

To change the display of a period format:

1

Select the cell or range.

2

From the Edit toolbar, check that the value formatting for the cell or range is set to Period.

3

Click the gear icon in the right panel to open the Formats panel.

4

From the Display drop-down, select how to display the value. The cell value changes to the period format you select, but the exact value of the cell remains.

Use Entered In and Shown In

You can adjust the precision of numbers in your spreadsheet using the Entered In and Shown In options.

To change the Entered In and Shown In settings:

1

Highlight a cell or range of cells.

2

From the Edit toolbar, select an option for Entered In to scale the values you enter or Shown In to define how to display the values.

Adjusting these settings may change the displayed value of a cell but does not change the exact entered value.

You can also change the number of decimal places shown using the Decimals drop-down.

Rounding and Adjustment Columns

As a best practice for rounding of values, you can use adjustment columns in spreadsheets. They allow for an increased audit trail using cell history and easy removal of adjustments during a roll forward process.

To learn more, see Moving from GPBO to Adjustment Columns.