WD2000: How to Modify a Calculation Field to Appear Blank (211256)

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Use one of the following methods to change how Word displays the result of your calculation field.

Method 1: Formula (=) Field

To change the result of a formula field to appear blank instead of displaying a zero, follow these steps:

1. Press ALT+F9 to turn on (show) the field codes.
   
   You should see a formula field similar to the following:
   
   { =SUM(A1:A3) \# $#,##0.00 }
2. Change (modify) the formula field to resemble the following:
   
   { =SUM(A1:A3) \# $#,##0.00;($#,##0.00); }
   
   NOTE: Be sure to include (type) the semicolon at the end of the picture switch.
3. Press ALT+F9 to turn off (hide) the field codes and to show the result of the formula field. When you update your field codes, the formula field should now appear blank when the result of the calculation is zero.

Method 2: Calculation Text Form Field

To change the result of a Calculation text form field to show no value instead of a zero, use the following steps:

1. Unprotect your form document.
2. Double-click the Calculation text form field.
3. In the Text Form Field Options dialog box, copy (CTRL+C) or cut (CTRL+X), and then delete the contents of the Number format box.
   
   NOTE: The Number format box must be blank.
4. Click OK to close the Text Form Field Options dialog box.
5. In your form, press ALT+F9 to turn on (show) the field codes.
   
   The Calculation text form field should disappear and show a field similar to the following:
   
   { FORMTEXT { =PRODUCT(A1:A3) } }
6. Paste (CTRL+V) or type the picture field switch (\#) format for your FORMTEXT field to show as follows:
   
   { FORMTEXT { =PRODUCT(A1:A3) \# $#,##0.00;($#,##0.00); } }
   
   NOTE: Be sure to include (type) the semicolon (;) at the end of the picture switch.
7. Press ALT+F9 to turn off (hide) the field codes and to show the result of the Calculation text form field, and then reprotect your form.

Your Calculation form field should now appear blank when the result of your calculation is zero.

For more information about the picture field switch, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type general field switches in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.


For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: