How to Create Custom Numbers in Excel

If you want your data to have leading text in each cell, i.e. ACCT - 12345, without typing the text each time, set up Custom formatting!

1. In Excel, select all the blank cells where you want to apply the custom format.
2. Press CTRL+1 (to open the Format cells dialog box).
3. Select Custom from the Category list.
4. Under Type, enter the text you want to automatically display followed by the minimum quantity of numbers (represented by zeros).
5. Click OK.
6. Now try typing just the numbers in the cells.  The text should automatically display!