Using Numbers like an adding machine for currency (New info)

In an old topic, someone asked if Numbers had the capability to operate in adding machine mode, whereas an entry of 1234 would be converted to 12.34 (instead of 1234.00).

Member Bad Unit responded with this solution:

You can do it with a custom format. The number in the cell will display with two decimal places but will actually be the number you typed (i.e., 100x greater than what it appears to be).

Create a custom format that looks like this: ####.##

Choose Custom Format

Type a decimal place at the end of the format

Drag another #,### to the end of the format

Remove two digits from the new #,###

Choose to not show decimals

Put a currency symbol on the left side of the format if you want it to be currency

Click OK

Type 1234567 into a cell formatted this way and it appears as 12345.67 but, if used in a formula, will be 1234567

After messing around with this, I came up with a way to make it work. The basic idea is you approach it like it’s a field with first and last names in it, and you want to separate them. To do this create 3 extra columns (we’ll call them x,y, and z). In the first column you separate out all numbers before the decimal. the second column add “00”, and in the third column, you concantinate the first two, and put a period between them. You use column 3 for your formulas, instead of the column you originally entered the data. Numbers will treat it like a number, or a currency if you set it up that way. Then just hide all the extra columns. Does this make sense to anyone but me? 😂