Rather than entering the numbers with parentheses, you'll need to format the
cells to display negative numbers with parentheses.  Press Ctrl-1 or click
Format - Cells, and click the Number tab.

There doesn't seem to be a built-in format that uses parentheses, which
surprises me, but you can create a custom format. First format the numbers
close to the way you want them, then in the Category box click custom.  In
the type box you'll see something like $#,##0.00;[Red]$-#,##0.00 - the code
after the semi-colon is the formatting for negative values. Change the type
to $#,##0.00;($#,##0.00) - there are other options aligning the currency
symbol etc - the help is quite informative.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
I am developing a spreadsheet to replace a paper based cashbook and VAT day
book.
I am reliably informed that in accounting a negative number should be
identified by placing it in parenthesis,
I understand that a negative number can be entered by enclosing it in
parenthesis but as soon as I change to the next cell or press enter the
parenthesis disappear and a minus sign precedes the number.
When printed out the minus sign is quite small and may easily be missed, I
cannot find any way to do this using the custom number formats within excel
but feel that it should be possible by adapting one of the existing custom
formats.
The office where the spreadsheet will be used only has a mono laser printer
so I can't resort to displaying negative amounts in red.
Could anyone possibly advise what the notation is that I should use?

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