# Formatting a Cell Value

Learn how to apply formatting to cell values in Spread for Winforms using IFormattedCellValue interface

## Content



Spread for Winforms provides the ability to apply formatting to a cell value itself. This helps to retain the format string of the value throughout the calculation.

The [GrapeCity.CalcEngine.IFormattedCellValue](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/GrapeCity.CalcEngine/GrapeCity.CalcEngine.IFormattedCellValue.html) interface is used to set the value and format properties in a cell. It represents the value of a cell with a format string and allows the user to implement their own formatted cell value. The [CalcEngine.FormattedCellValue](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/GrapeCity.Spreadsheet/GrapeCity.CalcEngine.FormattedCellValue.html) class members can also be used to create an object instance to implement the feature.

The following code example shows how to implement formatting to a cell value instead of to a cell.

```csharp
GrapeCity.Spreadsheet.IWorksheet TestActiveSheet = fpSpread1.AsWorkbook().ActiveSheet;

GrapeCity.CalcEngine.FormattedCellValue fmval = GrapeCity.CalcEngine.FormattedCellValue.Create(fpSpread1.AsWorkbook(), 123, "dd/mm/yyyy");
TestActiveSheet.Cells["A1"].Value = fmval;
TestActiveSheet.Cells["A2"].Formula = "A1"; // A2 show value same as A1 : 02/05/1900
```

```vbnet
Dim TestActiveSheet As GrapeCity.Spreadsheet.IWorksheet = FpSpread1.AsWorkbook().ActiveSheet

Dim fmval As GrapeCity.CalcEngine.FormattedCellValue = GrapeCity.CalcEngine.FormattedCellValue.Create(FpSpread1.AsWorkbook(), 123, "dd/mm/yyyy")

TestActiveSheet.Cells("A1").Value = fmval
TestActiveSheet.Cells("A2").Formula = "A1" ' A2 show value same as A1 : 02/05/1900
```

The following behavior should be noted when working with formatted cell values:

*   It is not supported in Spread Designer or through ExcelIO.
*   The formula textbox shows the editing value the same as the cell.
*   Any cell type including customized cell types works with **IFormattedCellValue** as a normal **IReadonlyPrimitiveValue**.