Stop Typing Decimal Points

Summary: Excel 2007 can automatically add decimal points when entering numeric values.

Need to key a large number of dollar figures into a Microsoft Excel 2007 spreadsheet? With a huge data entry job, every saved keypress helps.

To slightly reduce the amount of required typing, Excel 2007 can automatically add decimal places to numeric values. Thus, instead of typing the following:

* 215.43
* 1952.83
* 20961.76

You can just type the following and Excel will automatically add the decimal points into their proper places:

* 21543
* 195283
* 2096176

To toggle this feature:

1. Access the Microsoft Excel 2007 Options menu.
2. When the “Excel Options” dialog box appears, select “Advanced” in the left pane.
3. In the right pane, underneath “Editing options”, check “Automatically insert a decimal point”.
4. If necessary, underneath “Places”, change the number of decimal places needed in each number. When entering US currency this should remain as “2”. However, if your numeric values involve thousandths, or ten-thousandths of a number, adjust this value to “3” or “4” accordingly.
5. Click “OK” to close the “Excel Options” dialog box.