How to use the FORMAT Function with Strings (VBA)

MS Excel: How to use the FORMAT Function with Strings (VBA)

This Excel tutorial explains how to use the Excel FORMAT function (as it applies to string values) with syntax and examples.

Description

The Microsoft Excel FORMAT function takes a string expression and returns it as a formatted string.
The FORMAT function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a String/Text Function. It can be used as a VBA function (VBA) in Excel. As a VBA function, you can use this function in macro code that is entered through the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor.

Syntax

The syntax for the FORMAT function in Microsoft Excel is:

Format ( expression, [ format ] )

Parameters or Arguments

expression

The string value to format.

format

Optional. It is the format to apply to the expression. You can either define your own format or use one of the named formats that Excel has predefined such as:

Format	Explanation
General Number	Displays a number without thousand separators.
Currency	Displays thousand separators as well as two decimal places.
Fixed	Displays at least one digit to the left of the decimal place and two digits to the right of the decimal place.
Standard	Displays the thousand separators, at least one digit to the left of the decimal place, and two digits to the right of the decimal place.
Percent	Displays a percent value - that is, a number multiplied by 100 with a percent sign. Displays two digits to the right of the decimal place.
Scientific	Scientific notation.
Yes/No	Displays No if the number is 0. Displays Yes if the number is not 0.
True/False	Displays False if the number is 0. Displays True if the number is not 0.
On/Off	Displays Off if the number is 0. Displays On is the number is not 0.
General Date	Displays date based on your system settings
Long Date	Displays date based on your system's long date setting
Medium Date	Displays date based on your system's medium date setting
Short Date	Displays date based on your system's short date setting
Long Time	Displays time based on your system's long time setting
Medium Time	Displays time based on your system's medium time setting
Short Time	Displays time based on your system's short time setting

Returns

The FORMAT function returns a string value.

Applies To

• Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Function

• VBA function (VBA)

Example (as VBA Function)

The FORMAT function can only be used in VBA code in Microsoft Excel.
Let's look at some Excel FORMAT function examples and explore how to use the FORMAT function in Excel VBA code:

Format("210.6", "#,##0.00")
Result: '210.60'

Format("210.6", "Standard")
Result: '210.60'

Format("0.981", "Percent")
Result: '98.10%'

Format("1267.5", "Currency")
Result: '$1,267.50'

Format("Sep 3, 2003", "Short Date")
Result: '9/3/2003'

For example:

Dim LValue As String

LValue = Format("0.981", "Percent")

In this example, the variable called LValue would now contain the value of '98.10%'.