# Numeric data

> [HTML Version](numericdata.htm)

_Re-written February 2019_

_cformat_ code:  **#**

Indicates that the column contains numeric data, which affects the way the column is sorted, the type of [Auto-Filtering](auto-filtering.htm.md) that would be applied by default, and causes negative values to display automatically in red unless overridden by the [NegFgBg](negfgbg.htm.md) option.

Note that the **#** code does not prevent the display of non-numeric characters, nor does it automatically format them or even right-justify them. For these additional effects, see the **>** code and the [Mask](maskadvancedcoldef.htm.md) option. For editable cells, the **#** code only allows the input of numeric digits, so you may want to add the ** . ** and ** - ** codes to explicitly allow the entry of decimal points and minus signs—and/or use [Mask](maskadvancedcoldef.htm.md).

Note also that the **#** code has a lower priority that the **A** code.