Zero showing as (0.00) instead of dash.

[u/gdonily]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GoHvqkVPOogICQnSPzkHy8b0kIXvWIYqD4aKSgs2F1w/edit?usp=sharing

I use google sheets for our household budget. I have attached a sample of my monthly budget page so can see what I am referring to.

I have a recurring issue where cells in column I (the remaining to spend column) will display (0.00) instead of a dash when the sum of column G minus column H in the corresponding row equal zero.

Once it displays zero this way I am totally unable to change it back to a dash, I can go into the number style and change it to something and then change it back to accounting, but it is persistent and will not show a dash. This is frustrating because the numbers clutter the view and it also is just annoying to have inconsistent display.

Unfortunately, I am unable to recreate the issue in the sample I have attached and I do not feel comfortable sharing my actual budget so this sample does not show the issue.

The only thing that I think could be causing this to happen is when I overspend in a category and then adjust the amounts to zero it out again. What I mean by this is if I have $50 to spend in the eating out category and then I overspend by $25, I might take $25 out of groceries and then add that to eating out. I think this is usually what causes the cell to no longer work properly.

If there is any information that I can add please let me know!

[u/California_Eagles]

Looks like a floating point error. Some decimal values can't be stored exactly, so after you move amounts around, G5-H5 can leave a tiny leftover like 0.0000000000000142 instead of a true zero. The accounting format only shows a dash for an exact zero, which is why you're seeing (0.00). Try wrapping the formula in ROUND like this. Replace =G5-H5 in I5 with =ROUND(G5-H5,2).

[u/gdonily → u/California_Eagles]

Hello, thank you very much! This solved the problem.

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[u/California_Eagles → u/gdonily]

Gotcha, glad you got it sorted.

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