When working with excel spreadsheets, sometimes we encounter decimals. Some data entries may have a lot of decimals such that it cannot fit in a cell. How may I limit all these decimals? It is a question you get to ask. It should not be a stressful factor to you as there are ways of limiting the decimals using excel options.
In this article, we'll look at the different ways of limiting decimal numbers in your excel spreadsheet.
Let's go through the steps to follow in each of the methods below.
Using Excel’s Data Validation tool
1. In your open excel worksheet, select the cell where you want to limit the input of decimal places to either two or three (in this method, we will concentrate on two decimal places) for example, Cell A2
2. Click on the Data tab of the ribbon to display the various options.
3. Click on the Data Validation drop-down arrow and select "data validation." A dialog box will be displayed showing settings, Input Message, and Error Alert.
4. Select the settings option to display it.
5. From the Allow drop-down list, select Custom.
6. A formula box will appear after doing this, enter the formula =MOD(A2*100,1)=0
7. Click OK to close the dialog box.
This method ensures that there are no remainder decimals in cell A2. The only remainder will be two decimals.
Using the Format Cell Feature
1. In your worksheet, select the range of cells that contain numbers with four decimal places.
2. Right-click and select the Format Cells from the popup menu list. You will see the Number, Alignment, Font, Border, Fill, and Protection tabs.
3. In the Format Cells dialog box, click the number tab.
4. Next, click the Number option in the Category list box, and type the number you want your decimals to be in the Decimal places box.
5. Click OK. You will notice all the values in the selected range have changed to the decimal places you wanted.
Limit the number of decimals within the formula
If you do not want to see decimals in your excel sheet, you can use the ROUND, ROUNDUP, and ROUNDDOWN functions. Using these functions changes how the numbers look and the way they are stored. Here is what you have to do.
1. Select the cells whose decimals you want to limit.
2. Select destination the cell
3. On the main ribbon, select the "Formulas" menu.
4. Click the "Math & Trig" formulas drop-down menu.
5. Click the "Round" function. The Functions Arguments windows will pop up.
6. Use the available fields to set the ROUND function. In this case, select the "Number" field to set the number of decimals you want to round.
7. Click the OK button. You will be able to see your data rounded in the results column you had chosen. Click on the bottom right corner of the cell and drag it down to the rest of the rows to apply this formula to ensure all the numbers are rounded.
Conclusion
The above methods are some of the ways you can limit your decimal places in excel worksheets. There are different options to choose from that will lead to the same results. I hope this helps.