Options dialog - Format tab
You use the Format tab of the
Options dialog to specify the way in which you want to display dates and times within
Note that you can override the formatting that you specify on this tab for specific cells in the spreadsheet, by selecting the cells, selecting the Cells command from the Format menu, and configuring the formatting of those cells specifically on the Number tab of the Format Cells dialog.
How to access the Options dialog
To access the Options dialog, click the File tab, then click Options.
Explanation of the fields on the dialog
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Annotations | Select this check box to include the time display with dates in annotations and with fields that are displayed in the bar chart, or clear the check box to display dates only in annotations and in fields displayed in the bar chart. |
| Dialogs | Select this check box to include the time display with dates in dialogs, or clear the check box to display dates only in dialogs. |
| Spreadsheet | Select this check box to include the time display with dates in the spreadsheet, or clear the check box to display dates only in the spreadsheet. |
| Short format | Click this radio button to display dates using the short format as set up in Windows®. |
| Long format | Click this radio button to display dates using the long format as set up in Windows. |
| Decimal (4.4w) | Click this radio button to display durations as a decimal number, for example 4.6w or 11.75m. |
| Mixed time units (4w 2d) | Click this radio button to display durations using a combination of time units, for example 4w 3d or 2d 11h. If you select this option, specify the maximum number of types of time unit that you want to use to display a duration in the field below. |
| Compact (4:2) | Click this radio button to display durations using the compact names specified for each time unit on the Time Unit Properties dialog (which may be characters such as exclamation marks or asterisks). |
| Maximum number of mixed time units displayed in a duration | Specify the maximum number of types of time unit that you want to use to display durations when you display them in mixed format. For example, 4w 3d uses two types of time unit, while 1y 3m 2w uses three. |
| Path separator | Enter a character, for example a '.' or a ',', to use to separate the different elements of the pathname of codes in the WBS. |
| Date constant format | Select the date format to be used when writing constant dates within formulae. Note that this field is set initially to Regional default, and that you should only select another date format if the project is to be sent to a region in which a different date format is in use. If this is the case - and only if this is the case - specify the date format that is in use in the region in this field. |
| Decimal places for user fields |
Specify the number of decimal places that you want to display for float-type user-defined fields when they appear in Properties dialogs and in the properties view. For example, if you want to display float-type fields with four decimal places (15.2482), enter 4; if you want to display them with two decimal places (15.25), enter 2.
Creating user-defined fields for your own use
The number that you enter into this field applies only to Properties dialogs and the properties view; if you display a float-type user-defined field in a spreadsheet column, you specify the number of decimal places by formatting the spreadsheet column and - with Number selected in the Category field - entering a number in the Decimal places field on the Number tab of the Format Cells dialog.
|
How do I...
... specify whether to display precise times where dates are displayed?
Select the appropriate check boxes in the Show time with dates group to display times as well as dates in annotations, dialogs and the spreadsheet, or clear the check boxes to display dates without precise times.
The Annotations check box also determines whether times are displayed as well as dates in fields that are displayed in the bar chart.
... specify the format in which to display dates?
Click the Short Format or Long format radio button in the Date format group.
... specify the format in which to display durations?
- Select the duration format you want to use in the Duration format group.
- If you use the mixed time units duration format, specify the maximum number of types of unit to use when displaying durations.
... specify the character to use to separate the different elements of the pathname of codes in the WBS?
Enter a character, for example a '.' or a ',', in the Path separator field.
... specify the date format to be used when writing constant dates within formulae?
Select the date format to use in the Date constant format field.
... specify the number of decimal places to display for float-type user-defined fields when they appear in Properties dialogs and in the properties view?
Enter the number of decimal places to display in the Decimal places for user fields field.
Specifying whether times are displayed with dates