How to Change Negative to Positive in Excel

Are you working with data in Microsoft Excel and need to change negative numbers to positive? This is a common issue when dealing with finance, budgets, and other types of data analysis. Fortunately, Excel provides several easy-to-use functions and methods to quickly change negative numbers to positive. In this blog post, we will show you how to change negative to positive in Excel, step-by-step.

Method 1: Using the ABS Function

The ABS function is a simple method to convert a negative number to a positive number in Excel. It stands for “absolute value”.

Step 1:

Input the formula =ABS (number) in a blank cell, where “number” is the cell reference of the negative value you want to convert. For example, if the negative number is in cell A1, type =ABS(A1) in the formula bar.

Step 2:

Press Enter. The negative value will be converted to its positive equivalent in the cell where you entered the formula.

Step 3:

Copy the formula down to other cells by dragging the fill handle (the small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell).

Method 2: Using Paste Special

Paste special can also be used to convert negative values to positive values in Excel. This method is useful when you need to change a large number of values at once.

Step 1:

Select the cells containing the negative values you want to change.

Step 2:

Right-click on the selected cells and select “Copy”.

Step 3:

Right-click on the same selection of cells and select “Paste Special”.

Step 4:

Select “Values” and click on “Multiply”.

Step 5:

Click “OK”. The negative values will be converted to their positive equivalents.

Method 3: Using Find and Replace

Find and Replace is a quick and easy method to convert negative values to positive values in Excel. It can be particularly helpful when dealing with large amounts of data in Excel spreadsheets.

Step 1:

Select the range of cells you want to convert negative values to positive values.

Step 2:

Press Ctrl+F (or Command+F on Mac) to open the “Find and Replace” window.

Step 3:

In the “Find what” field, enter the minus sign (-).

Step 4:

In the “Replace with” field, enter nothing or a blank.

Step 5:

Select “Replace All”. Excel will replace all negative values with their positive equivalent.

Changing negative values to positive values in Excel is a simple process that can be accomplished using any of the above methods or a combination of them. Whether you’re dealing with a handful of negative values or an entire spreadsheet filled with them, these methods should help you convert to positives with ease and speed.

Changing the Color of Converted Values for Quick Reference

If you want to change the color of the newly converted positive values for quick reference, you can do so by highlighting the range of cells you wish to change and then right-clicking to select “Format Cells”. From there, select the “Fill” tab and choose the fill color you want. The positive values will now be highlighted in the selected color.

Using Conditional Formatting to Change the Color of Negative Values

If you’d like to keep the negative values but want them to be easily identifiable, you can use conditional formatting to change their color. Here’s how:

Step 1:

Select the range of cells you want to apply the conditional formatting to.

Step 2:

Under the “Home” tab, select the “Conditional Formatting” dropdown and choose “New Rule”.

Step 3:

Select “Format only cells that contain” and set the rule to “Less than 0”.

Step 4:

Select the formatting you’d like to apply to the negative values, such as font color or cell fill color, and click “OK”.

Step 5:

Click “OK” again to apply the conditional formatting to your selected cells. The negative values will now be formatted as per your specifications.

Checking for Errors After Conversion

It’s important to double-check your data after you’ve converted negative values to positive values to ensure accuracy. One way to do this is to use the Error Checking feature in Excel, which will highlight any cells with errors. Simply go to the “Formulas” tab and click on “Error Checking” to see any cells with errors.

By following the steps and using the methods outlined in this article, you can easily convert negative values to positive values in Excel and ensure data accuracy in your spreadsheets.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about converting negative values to positive in Excel:

Can I convert all negative numbers in a column to positive at once?

Yes, you can use the “Fill” feature in Excel to convert a column of negative numbers to positive at once. Simply enter a formula that references the first cell in the column with a negative number, then copy and paste that formula to the rest of the cells in the column.

Will changing negative values to positive affect other calculations?

Yes, if you have formulas in your spreadsheet that reference the negative values, changing them to positive will affect those calculations. However, you should be able to simply copy and paste the new values into the same place to update the calculations.

Can I undo the conversion of negative numbers to positive?

Unfortunately, once you’ve converted negative numbers to positive, you can’t convert them back to negative using the same methods. However, you can keep a copy of the original data or work with a saved version of the spreadsheet that has not yet been converted.

What if I have both positive and negative numbers in one column and only want to convert the negatives?

You can use the “Find and Replace” feature in Excel to replace only negative numbers with their positive equivalent. Simply select the range of cells you want to change, press Ctrl+F, and set your parameters to find only negative numbers using the minus sign (-).

Can I change the color of negative values that remain in a spreadsheet after converting the negatives to positives?

Yes, you can use conditional formatting to highlight negative values that you’d like to keep in your spreadsheet for easy reference. Just select your range of cells and use the “Conditional Formatting” dropdown on the “Home” tab to set your parameters and highlight negative values in a different color.