How to Apply Double Accounting Underline Format in Excel

To effectively present financial data in Excel, it is important to not only have accurate information but also to present it in a visually appealing way. Microsoft Excel offers various tools and formatting options for analyzing and presenting data efficiently. One useful formatting option is the Double Accounting Underline format, which can improve the clarity and presentation of financial data.

In this Excel tutorial, two straightforward methods are discussed with illustrative images to apply the double accounting underline format. The methods include the use of the Format Cells dialog box and a VBA macro, which will empower you to exert this formatting tool with precision and ease.

Take a moment to view the following image. The image gives an overview of this Excel tutorial. On the right side of the image, you can see the outcome of the methods explained in this article for applying double accounting underlines format to the chosen cells of the left side.

What is Double Accounting Underline Format in Excel?

The double accounting underline is a formatting style commonly used in financial and accounting documents to indicate a total or net figure and the end of an accounting procedure. Typically, double underlining appears in the figure at the bottom of a table column in an invoice or a financial statement. Moreover, the double accounting underline format in Excel involves applying a double line under any characters or numbers in a cell, creating a professional and neat appearance suitable for financial reports, tables, and statements.

Remember that, there are basic differences between a double underline and a double accounting underline format. The double underline places a line directly beneath the text, while the double accounting underline is designed for financial contexts, positioning the underline slightly lower to accommodate characters with descenders, such as “g” or “y.” This format ensures a polished and professional appearance in financial documents, enhancing readability by preventing overlap with descending characters.

2 Ways to Apply Double Accounting Underline Format in Excel

Whether you are a finance professional aiming for improved reports or a beginner in Excel, it is important to learn the simple ways to apply the double accounting underline format in Excel.

For a better understanding of the steps of each method, assume the following sample data named as Dataset. The sample data have some seller names in the Salesman column and, respectively, their product of sales in the Product column and sales amount in the Net Sales column. The net sales amounts are in the Accounting Number Formats (ANF).

Take a short view of the above sample data. Remember that, the purpose of this article is to apply the double accounting underline format to the amounts of Net Sales column.

Using Format Cells Dialog Box

The Format Cells dialog box in Excel enables control over the formatting options, allowing you to adjust the accounting underline options to your specific requirements.

Follow the steps below to apply double accounting underline format in Excel using the Format Cells dialog box:

1. Select the cells that you want to apply the double accounting underline format.
   In our sample data, the cells selected for formatting are D5:D10.
2. Right-click on the selected cells, and from the context menu, choose Format Cells.
   Or, use the Home tab > Font group > Dialog Box Launcher button ().
   Shortcut: Press CTRL + 1 (from the keyboard, not from the numeric keypad) to directly open the Format Cells dialog box.
   The Format Cells dialog box will appear.
3. Click on the Font tab and select Double Accounting from the Underline field.
   
4. Click OK to apply double accounting underlines to the selected cells.

Following the above steps will convert the formats of the selected cells into double accounting underlined, making them suitable for displaying financial data in a clear and organized manner.

Note: No dedicated keyboard shortcut exists for applying a double accounting underline format in Excel.
And remember that, there exists a Double Underline option in the Font group of the Home tab of Excel, which is not similar to the double accounting underline. To apply a double underline, select your data ranges and click on Home tab > Font group > Underline dropdown > Double Underline. Or, press Alt + H + 3 + D sequentially to apply a double underline (not double accounting underline).
The functionality of keyboard shortcuts may vary among Excel Versions. This tutorial uses Excel 365 for all of its purposes.

Using Excel VBA

Using Excel VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) for applying the double accounting underline format not only simplifies repetitive formatting tasks to ensure consistency but also reduces the risk of errors, making it a valuable tool for users handling large datasets or regularly updating financial reports.

Using the Font property of the Selection object, a VBA macro can be developed to apply the double accounting underline format to a specified range of cells in Excel. Follow the steps below to apply double accounting underline format in Excel using VBA macro:

1. Open the Visual Basic Editor by clicking on Visual Basic tool from the Developer tab.
   Shortcut: Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor directly.
   
2. Insert a new module: Click on Insert > Module.
   Or, right-click on any item in the project explorer on the left, and select Insert > Module.
   
3. Copy and paste the following codes into the module:

   Sub Double_Accounting_Underline()
   Selection.Font.Underline = xlUnderlineStyleDoubleAccounting
   End Sub

4. Press Ctrl + S and save the workbook as Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm).
   
5. Close the VBA Editor and select your data ranges.
   Here, the selected data range is D5:D10.
6. Run the VBA macro.
   To run the macro, follow the steps below:
   • Press Alt + F8 to open the Macro dialog box.
     Or, from the Developer tab, click on Macros.
   • Select Double_Accounting_Underline from the list of Macro name.
   • Click Run.

   

   Shortcut: You can also run the macro from the VB Editor. To do so, select your cells; return to the VB Editor, and press F5, a function key of your keyboard.

Following the above steps will convert the formats of the selected cells into double accounting underlined, making them suitable for displaying financial data in a clear and organized manner. You can change the macro name (Double_Accounting_Underline) from the given code as per your requirement.

Download Practice Workbook

Download this practice workbook to better understand while reading or exercising this tutorial.

Conclusion

Mastering the application of the double accounting underline format in Excel is essential for finance and accounting professionals, as it serves as a valuable tool for presenting financial data, organizing information, and highlighting key figures. This Excel guide presents the double accounting underline format in Excel as a tool to format the bottom lines of an accounting procedure. The text provides two methods for applying this format: using the Format Cells dialog box and using VBA macro. Use these methods in your real dataset and feel free to reach out to us in the comments section for any questions, corrections, comments, or technical assistance.

Frequently Asked Question

How to apply single accounting underline format in Excel?

To apply the Single Accounting Underline format in Excel, simply select the target cells, open the Fromat Cells dialog box (Ctrl + 1), and find the Underline field in the Font tab. Click on the drop-down arrow and choose Single Accounting to instantly apply a single accounting underline under the characters.

Can I customize the appearance of the double accounting underline in Excel?

Yes, you can customize the line style, color, and other formatting options by right-clicking on the selected cells, choosing Format Cells, and navigating to the Font tab.

How can I remove the double accounting underline format in Excel?

To remove the double accounting underline format in Excel, select the cells or range where the formatting is applied. Click on Home tab > Font group > Underline icon. Alternatively, by selecting your cells and pressing Ctrl + U or Ctrl + 4 twice from the keyboard, you can remove the formatting of double accounting underline.

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