Hello everyone,

Standard EXCEL is configured to show numbers as follows: 132.546,256

(hundred and thirty two thousand five hundred and fourty six AND two hundred and fifty six thousands)

Just in one file I need formatting to be as follows: 132546.256.

So decimal values noted with periods . and not kommas ,.

Through adapted cell properties I dont get there.

To change the standard configuration of EXCEL is no option as it would change the formatting of ALL my files, which I dont want.

It is about an application whereby cordinates in QGIS (Software for a  Geografical  Information Syseem) are copied and pasted into EXCEL.
QGIS Works with the American formatting ("." instead of ","). Then I need to re-upload the file again to a site working with the American system.

A workaround could be to create a new user on the PC and to use in this configuration EXCEL without the 1000-separator and a period (.) as a decimal separator.

But thats not really a work friendly solution as most of my work is done in the European system, i.e. "," for decimal numbers.

Thank you for a clear and superb solution!

• Moved by Lanlan HuangMicrosoft contingent staff Friday, April 03, 2015 2:27 AM

It may not be what you want to hear, but my suggestion is to bite the bullet and switch to decimal point. It takes a few days to get used to, but after that you do not want to go back.

(Almost) every computer program works with a decimal point, so when working with e.g. output/input from/to other programs it's always better to use a dot (.). When using this setting the list separator becomes a comma and with it also the formula separator. The comma as a formula separator is in line with the way VBA works so if you work with VBA the transition between Excel and VBA becomes a lot easier. Additionally CSV is called "Comma Separated Values", so it is also in line with that. Also when visiting help forums for Excel all users use the formula comma separator so it is easier to copy-paste formulas from the forums.

Further ISO suggests to use a space a thousands separator to get rid of possible confusion about which decimal separator is used. Of course this is something to decide for yourself.

You could also switch , to . in Excel like this:

File - Options - Advanced - Editing Options - then deactivate "Use Systems Separators" and choose your Settings.

But this would have to set back, once you want to continue with , again.

@ Imke

That doesn't work. If you choose for decimal value "." and for "thousand separator" "blank" or ","  it will change the settings automatically.

In fact, somewhere along the road you can read a message that the "Country Settings" in the Control Panel overrule everything.

But I got it solved. QGIS itself has the solution when importing the CSV file with ",". You can tick a box that says "decimal values with komma". Aparently they know the shortcomings of EXCEL...

• Edited by PatrickFromBelgium 1 hour 4 minutes ago
• Proposed as answer by Imke Feldmann 58 minutes ago

@ Alex

Well, I tried it out to create a second user on the PC and changed the "Country Settings" there in the "Control Panel".

That works. But it's not practical to have to work on two different USER settings.

But I got it solved anyway.

QGIS itself has the solution when importing the CSV file with decimal values written as ",".

You can tick a box that says "decimal values with komma". Aparently they know the shortcomings of EXCEL...

• Edited by PatrickFromBelgium 58 minutes ago