SUMMARY
The General number format rounds off numbers for display if the column
width is not sufficient for the display of all the decimal digits.
Generally, if the column width selected is less than the width needed
to display the entire number, it is rounded off to the nearest decimal
place or whole number that the column width will allow. For example:
2.86 may be rounded to 2.9 or 3
2.3 may be rounded to 2
0.3 may be rounded to 0
This effect is quite the opposite of that of the other number formats,
which display number signs (#) across the width of the column if the
width is not sufficient to display all the decimal digits. However the
number will be displayed as (#) if the column width becomes too small
to display the entire number.
However, all calculations based on these values use the original
stored values, and this is true even if the Precision As Displayed box
is checked in the Calculation dialog box on the Options menu.
Using the following example:
A1: 2 B1:19.15 C1: 2.3 D1: 19.15
A2: 3 C2: 2.5
A3: 3 C3: 2.5
A4: 3 C4: 3.2
A5: 3 C5: 2.7
A6: 1 C6: 1
A7: 2 C7 2.45
A8: 3 C8: 2.5
A1:A8 is an exact copy of C1:C8, and both B1 and D1 sum these ranges,
respectively. Column A is formatted for a width of 2.86, while the
others are at the standard 8.43 default. All cells are at the default
General number format.
If A1 (or other cells in that column) is active, the formula bar still
shows the original value, that is, 2.3.