Minitab®  Support

Format columns

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Complete the following steps to format one or more columns. The format options depend on whether you're using the desktop or web app.

In This Topic

Format columns in the desktop

Select the column or columns to format. The columns must be adjacent and have the same data type. Right-click the column and choose Format Column. Then select the format for the column from Choose type.
Automatic numeric
Minitab determines the number of decimal places to display, depending on the values in the column.
Fixed decimal
Display the numbers with a fixed number of decimal places. From Decimal places, select the number of decimal places to display.
Exponential
Display the numbers in exponential format. From Decimal places, select the number of decimal places to display before the E. For example, the number 3200 in exponential format is 3.20E+03 with two decimal places, or 3.2E+03 with one decimal place.
Currency
Display the numbers in a currency format. Do the following:
  • From Decimal places, select the number of decimal places to display.
  • From Symbol, select the currency symbol. The options that are available depend on the regional and language settings in the Windows Control Panel.
  • From Negative numbers, select the format to use for negative currency values.
Percentage
Display the numbers in a percentage format. From Decimal places, select the number of decimal places to display.
Date

Display the data in a date format. Select a format from the list, or enter a custom format.

If you change text data to date/time data, the Convert Text to Date Time dialog box appears. Specify an existing date format to use, or enter a custom format.

Time

Display the data in a time format. Select a format from the list, or enter a custom format.

If you change text data to date/time data, the Convert Text to Time dialog box appears. Specify an existing time format to use, or enter a custom format.

Elapsed time

Display the data in an elapsed time format. Select a format from the list, or enter a custom format.

If you change text data to elapsed time data, the Convert Text to Elapsed Time dialog box appears. Specify an existing elapsed time format to use, or enter a custom format.

Text
Format the column as text data.

Format columns in the web app

Select the column or columns to format. The columns must be adjacent and have the same data type. Right-click the column and choose Format Column. Then select the format for the column from Format.
Text
Format the column as text data.
Date/Time

Display the data in a date/time format. The Preview box displays the format the worksheet uses.

Automatic (Numeric)
Minitab determines the number of decimal places to display, depending on the values in the column.
Integer
Removes any decimal places and displays numeric data as an integer.
Decimal Places
Display the numbers with a fixed number of decimal places. From Decimal places, select the number of decimal places to display.
Exponential
Display the numbers in exponential format. From Decimal places, select the number of decimal places to display before the E. For example, the number 3200 in exponential format is 3.20E+03 with two decimal places, or 3.2E+03 with one decimal place.
Currency
Display the numbers in a currency format. Do the following:
  • From Symbol, select the currency symbol.
  • From Decimal places, select the number of decimal places to display.
  • From Negative numbers, select the format to use for negative currency values.
Percentage
Display the numbers in a percentage format. From Decimal places, select the number of decimal places to display.
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