74
Number recognition
Input category
The input category is determined as shown in the following table.
Table 18: Input categories
Category
Nature of input
Examples
(based on
USA locale)
Function or
formula
Starts with an equals sign.
=A1+A2 or
=SUM(A2:A10)
Boolean
True or false (case does not matter)
True or
FALSE
Number
Digits only with optional decimal separator, optional
thousands separator, negative numbers expressed with
either a negative sign at either end or enclosed by
brackets.
1, 1.1, -1, (1)
1,123, -123.1
Percentage
Same as for number but has a % at right end.
1%, -1%, (1)%
1.1% , 0.1%
Currency
Same as for Number but with the locale’s currency
symbol at either end.
$1, 1$, $(1),
(1)$, $1.1
Scientific
Same as for Number but can have E (case does not
matter) and then a power of ten.
1e1, 1E1, -1e1,
(1e1), (1e-1),
(1.2e1)
Fraction
Optional negative sign, some digits, a space, some
digits, a slash, some digits.
1 1/2, -1 2/3
Time
One or two digits, time separator for locale, one or two
digits, optional time separator for locale, optional
decimal separator for locale, more digits.
10:40, 1:30
Date
Most representations of dates. If the year is not given,
it is interpreted as being the current year, if the digits
for century are not given, it is determined by the
settings in Tools > Options > OpenOffice.org >
General. If the numbers given are not valid for the
locale, then input is interpreted as text. Examples
include: one or two digits, date separator for locale,
one or two digits (1/1); three sets of digits separated by
decimal separator (1.1.1); textual representations (1
Feb).
1/1, 1/1/5, 1.1.5,
1 Feb, 1 Jan,
1 January
1 January 05
Date and time
Input is in the form of (date) digits, date separator for
locale, a space, digits with time separator for locale.
As for dates, the numbers must be valid for the locale.
1/1/5 10:30
Text
Anything that does not meet the above criteria.
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Chapter 6 Differences in Use between Calc and Excel