{"id":6142,"date":"2017-11-06T22:25:26","date_gmt":"2017-11-06T21:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/?p=6142"},"modified":"2025-06-16T22:18:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T20:18:59","slug":"guide-des-formats-de-donnees-de-google-sheets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/blog\/google-sheets-features\/google-sheets-data-formats-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide du format des donn\u00e9es de Google Sheets"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” module_class=”sheetgo-post” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Google Sheets spreadsheets application is designed to hold information of many different types. These data types broadly fall into text, numbers, and dates. The data-format settings define how we see the information on a particular cell. By default, the data format for any cell is set to \u2018Automatic\u2019. Meaning that the application reads the data within the cells, and it automatically decides how to show that information to us. If needed, we can also amend the data format settings. This article is a brief\u00a0<\/span>Google Sheets data format guide. Find the official documentation\u00a0<\/span>here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connections T – Automate between spreadsheets – Horizontal” module_class=”sheetgo-post-no-shadow-img md2-contained-button-light vertical-banner-container” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f2f7ff” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” max_height=”300px” custom_margin=”20px|0px|20px|0px|true|true” custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|true|true” sticky_limit_bottom=”section” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#d9e7ff” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}” global_module=”255443″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"39\"<\/p>\n

Automate data transfers between spreadsheets
<\/span><\/p>\n

Find out how<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Automatic data format<\/h3>\n

Please consider the screenshot below. We entered the data in the cells A1 through A6.\u00a0The first two cells contain two different forms of text. The second two cells contain dates that are represented differently. The last two cells contain numbers \u2013 decimal and whole respectively.<\/p>\n

After we key in any information within a cell, Google Sheets recognizes the type of content going into the cell, and it automatically adjusts the data format accordingly.\u00a0Just to quickly check, we navigate to the\u00a0<\/span>Format > Number<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>option through the menu, and we see that the format is set to \u2018Automatic\u2019 by default. The cells with text are left-aligned (like a text should be), the numbers are right-aligned (like numbers should be).<\/p>\n

This proves that Google Sheets is intelligent enough to know which cell contains what data type, and accordingly renders it for us.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/sheets1.png” alt=”Sample Data and Navigation to Automatic Number” title_text=”navigation-to-automatic-number” align=”center” module_class=”sheetgo-post-no-shadow-img” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Plain text format<\/h3>\n

It probably may sound redundant to change the data format to Plain text format. Because Google Sheets is already properly rendering the cells with text. But there can be cases where we need a string of numbers as opposed to a numeric value. In such a scenario, we may have to manually force Google Sheets to treat the string of numbers as text, which otherwise would have been treated as an actual number.<\/p>\n

So, in the cell A6, if it is supposed to be a text value, we can do that. Select cell A6. Now navigate to\u00a0<\/span>Format > Number > Plain text<\/strong>. In doing so, we\u2019ll notice the contents gets left-aligned just as it were a text.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/sheet2-1.png” alt=”Google Sheets Data Format: Navigation to Plain Text” title_text=”plain-text-format” align=”center” module_class=”sheetgo-post-no-shadow-img” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Numbers and their supporting Google Sheets data format<\/h3>\n

Most of the available data formats in Google Sheets cater to rendering numbers in various ways. Including scientific, percentage, currency, accounting and financial representations. Please consider the following screenshot.\u00a0The section of the toolbar highlighted contains shortcuts to number formatting options (alternatively we can access them through\u00a0Format > Number<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Column A holds the actual numeric values, whereas column C has the values represented in data formats as pointed out in column B.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/sheet4.png” alt=”Different Number Format Types in Google Sheets” title_text=”number-types” align=”center” module_class=”sheetgo-post-no-shadow-img” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Google Sheets provides us with an even more advanced number and currency formatting options. We can access them through\u00a0<\/span>Format > Number > More Formats<\/strong>. However, it is beyond the scope of this Google Sheets data format guide. So, here\u2019s the\u00a0<\/span>Google documentation<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>to help us understand these advanced formats.<\/p>\n

Date format<\/h3>\n

It is interesting to note that all the dates in Google Sheets are numbers! In the snapshot below, please observe how using generally available date formats against various numbers produces different results.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/sheet5.png” alt=”Snapshot of Different Date Types in Google Sheets” title_text=”date-types-snapshot” align=”center” module_class=”sheetgo-post-no-shadow-img” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Not just that, the date formats also support inherent date values! We formatted the first two entries using generally used date formats. But we have myriad other date format options when we navigate to\u00a0<\/span>Format > Number > More formats > More date and time formats<\/strong>. We did that for the third case as shown below.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/sheets6.png” alt=”Google Sheets Data Format: Custom Date and Time Formats in Google Sheets” title_text=”custom-date-and-time-formats” align=”center” module_class=”sheetgo-post-no-shadow-img” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Location dependence<\/h3>\n

Please note that the data format options that the user sees will depend on the spreadsheet locale. For instance, in all the examples within this Google Sheets data formats guide, the spreadsheet locale (in\u00a0<\/span>File > Spreadsheet settings > Locale<\/strong>) is set to the United States. Accordingly, the currency symbol has been $, all the date formats were predominantly showing in month-date-year sequence, and all the content shows in the English language.<\/p>\n

Let us try and change the locale to Japan. We see the currency symbol is set to \u00a5.\u00a0The date formats show the year-month-day sequence, and also we see the Japanese language showing up in the date formats.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/sheet7.png” alt=”Google Sheets Data Format: Changing Location for Currency Symbol” title_text=”change-location-and-currency” align=”center” module_class=”sheetgo-post-no-shadow-img” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Hope this post served as a Google Sheets data format guide! Feel free to go through the following blog post to learn how you can\u00a0<\/span>transfer formatting in Google Sheets with Sheetgo.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Featured image designed by Freepik<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Google Sheets spreadsheets application is designed to hold information of many different types. These data types broadly fall into text, numbers, and dates. The data-format settings define how we see the information on a particular cell. By default, the data format for any cell is set to \u2018Automatic\u2019. Meaning that the application reads the data […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":7683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

Google Sheets data format guide<\/h3>\nGoogle Sheets spreadsheets application is designed to hold information of many different types. These data types broadly fall into text, numbers, and dates. The data-format settings define how we see the information on a particular cell. By default, the data format for any cell is set to 'Automatic'. Meaning that the application reads the data within the cells, and it automatically decides how to show that information to us. If needed, we can also amend the data format settings. This article is a brief Google Sheets data format guide<\/em><\/strong>.\n

Automatic data format<\/h3>\nPlease consider the screenshot below. We entered the data in the cells A1 through A6.\u00a0The first two cells contain two different forms of text. The second two cells contain dates that are represented differently. The last two cells contain numbers - decimal and whole respectively.\n\nAfter we key in any information within a cell, Google Sheets recognizes the type of content going into the cell, and it automatically adjusts the data format accordingly.\u00a0Just to quickly check, we navigate to the Format > Number<\/strong> option through the menu, and we see that the format is set to 'Automatic' by default. The cells with text are left aligned (like a text should be), the numbers are right aligned (like numbers should be).\n\nThis proves that Google Sheets is intelligent enough to know which cell contains what data type, and accordingly renders it for us.\n\nExample<\/strong> \"Google\n

Plain text format<\/h3>\nIt probably may sound redundant to change the data format to 'Plain text' format. Because Google Sheets is already properly rendering the cells with text. But there can be cases where we need a string of numbers as opposed to a numeric value. In such a scenario, we may have to manually force Google Sheets to treat the string of numbers as text, which otherwise would have been treated as an actual number.\n\nSo, in the cell A6, if it is supposed to be a text value, we can do that. Select cell A6. Now navigate to Format > Number > Plain text<\/strong>. In doing so, we'll notice the contents gets left-aligned just as it were a text.\n\nExample<\/strong> \"Google\n

Numbers and their supporting Google Sheets data format<\/h3>\nMost of the available data formats in Google Sheets cater to rendering numbers in various ways. Including scientific, percentage, currency, accounting and financial representations. Please consider the following screenshot.\u00a0The section of the toolbar highlighted contains shortcuts to number formatting options (alternatively we can access them through\u00a0Format > Number<\/strong>).\n\nColumn A holds the actual numeric values, whereas column C has the values represented in data formats as pointed out in column B.\n\nExample<\/strong> \"Google\n\nGoogle Sheets provides us with an even more advanced number and currency formatting options. We can access them through Format > Number > More Formats<\/strong>. However, it is beyond the scope of this Google Sheets data format guide. So, here's the Google documentation<\/a> to help us understand these advanced formats.\n

Date format<\/h3>\nIt is interesting to note that all the dates in Google Sheets are numbers! In the snapshot below, please observe how using generally available date formats against various numbers produces different results.\n\nExample<\/strong> \"Google\n\nNot just that, the date formats also support inherent date values! We formatted the first two entries using generally used date formats. But we have myriad other date format options when we navigate to Format > Number > More formats > More date and time formats<\/strong>. We did that for the third case as shown below.\n\nExample<\/strong> \"Google\n

Location dependence<\/h3>\nPlease note that the data format options that the user sees will depend on the spreadsheet locale. For instance, in all the examples within this Google Sheets data formats guide, the spreadsheet locale (in File > Spreadsheet settings > Locale<\/strong>) is set to the United States. Accordingly, the currency symbol has been $, all the date formats were predominantly showing in month-date-year sequence, and all the content shows in the English language.\n\nLet us try and change the locale to Japan. We see the currency symbol is set to \u00a5.\u00a0The date formats show the year-month-day sequence, and also we see the Japanese language showing up in the date formats.\n\nExample<\/strong> \"Google\n\nHope this post served as a Google Sheets data format guide! Please go through this official documentation page<\/a> to augment our understanding further.\n\n
\n\nFeatured image designed by Freepik<\/a><\/em><\/span>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[39,28],"class_list":["post-6142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-google-sheets-features","tag-connections-t","tag-spreadsheets"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6142\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}