Apache OpenOffice Community Forum

I've seen bits and pieces discussing this but didn't find a full description. The only thing that's keeping me from switching completely to OO is the lack of an accounting format in Calc. In Excel, it is the "," on the command bar and can be applied to columns, rows, any area selected. I use this format on literally every spreadsheet I do and don't want to write a user-defined format for every single sheet. It would be great to have one built in that would offer this format.

This format would present numbers:

With thousands separator
With two decimal places as default (adjustable to no decimals in other code)
No currency symbol
Negative numbers shown in (parentheses)
Numbers all aligned right

If this has already been requested, I apologize. I did search but didn't find a full description. I really like this software other than this really necessary missing issue.

Thank you for your time and your excellent product.

You may find viewtopic.php?t=21759 interesting.

In a new, empty, spreadsheet, create a suitable format and save as your default template.

That's an interesting idea, but it won't help with the spreadsheets sent to me by my clients or exports from other software, like QuickBooks. That is if I'm understanding correctly. It appears a number of users have asked about this format, so I hope one will be built in soon. Thank you.

It sounds like you expect to open a file and have the formatting, set in that file by the author as they want it, automatically over-ridden to your specifications. That isn't how it works.

Not set. Just available like the other number formats. In Excel, it's a built in format for numbers that sets them the way I listed which is standard for accounting. Date, Time, Scientific, Accounting, General - they're all just format selections.
I've been using spreadsheet software for decades. I do sorta know how it works.

I simply want to be able to select a column or multiple columns and designate the formatting as Accounting so that the numbers will appear in standard accounting format. At this point, there's no easy way to do that.

At this point, there's no easy way to do that.

Not in OpenOffice, nor in LibreOffice. You could make a feature request for AOO via Reporting bugs or suggestions but development on AOO seems slow currently. Alternatively you could make the same request of LibreOffice and perhaps get a much quicker response.

Otherwise, you have to create the format for each file you receive, or use Excel. It is also possible there may be other spreadsheet software out there that mimics Excel in this regard.

Thank you for the response. I guess I'll be using Excel for spreadsheets and OO for everything else. I'm grateful for the OO software and I have gotten a lot of use out of it over the years. I'll keep hoping I can consolidate, but not expecting it. It's great software.

Understand that if you don't make your wishes for change known through the appropriate channels, it is unrealistic to expect any change. Developers do not look in user to user forums for enhancement proposals.

Other discussion on the topic that may or may not be of interest; https://duckduckgo.com/?q=libreoffice+c ... 9-1&ia=web

I understand. Thank you for your time and information.

mtntime wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 1:05 am The only thing that's keeping me from switching completely to OO is the lack of an accounting format in Calc

If Excel better meets your needs then you should use it, of course. All these issues are very old, confirmed, but unresolved. It is not possible to record a macro which creates a style. It might be possible to write such a macro. I do not offer to help with that.
Pre-defined accounting format
Accounting notation (currency left with value right)
Accounting underlining
Comma style missing