Number Sheet

Use the Number sheet of the System Formats dialog to set the default formats for numeric fields.

To set the default formats for numeric fields

1. Click the Number tab of the System Formats dialog.

   The Number sheet, shown in the following image, is then displayed.

   

2. In the Negative list box (in the Default Whole Number Format group box or the Default Decimal Number Format group box), select the format you require when printing negative numbers.

   The default value is Leading Sign, which indicates that the negative sign (-) is printed to the left of the whole or decimal negative number without an intervening space.

3. In the 1000's Separator text box (in the Default Whole Number Format group box or the Default Decimal Number Format group box), enter the character or characters that you want to use to separate thousands.

   The default value is a comma character (,). The maximum number of separator characters is three.

4. In the Decimal Separator text box of the Default Decimal Number Format group box, enter the character that you want to use to separate the whole numbers from the decimals in place of the decimal point.

   The default value is a period character (.). The maximum number of separator characters is three.

5. In the Decimals text box of the Default Decimal Number Format group box, enter the number (in the range 0 through 9) of decimal places that you want printed.

   The default value of 2 indicates that decimal numbers are printed to two decimal places.

6. Uncheck the Show Leading Zero for Decimals check box of the Default Decimal Number Format group box to suppress the printing of zero (0) in front of the decimal point when the number is less than 1.

   By default, the Show Leading Zero for Decimals check box is checked (that is, leading zeros are printed).

7. Check the Suppress If Zero check box (in the Default Whole Number Format group box or the Default Decimal Number Format group box) to suppress the printing of a whole or decimal number if it is zero (0).

   By default, the Suppress If Zero check box is unchecked, indicating that the whole or decimal number is printed if it is zero (0).

8. Click another tab if you want to make changes on the other sheets of the System Formats dialog.

9. Click the Apply button to apply the changes that you have made or click the Close button to close the System Formats dialog.

   To save the recent changes when you close the dialog, you must click the Apply button immediately prior to closing the dialog. To abandon any changes that you have made but not yet applied, do not click the Apply button immediately prior to clicking the Close button.