WPS Spreadsheets: Display an Asterisk in a Custom Phone Number Format
Question details
The user needs to display an asterisk alongside a telephone number without converting the numeric value to text.
- Product
- WPS Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A phone number must use a custom number format and show an asterisk as a visual marker or suffix.
- Observed behavior
- An asterisk entered directly in a custom number format can act as a fill character instead of displaying as a literal asterisk; adding it to the cell value would make the result text.
Confirm that the phone number cell contains a numeric value and identify whether the asterisk should appear before or after the formatted number. Use a test cell first if the worksheet contains important phone data.
Use a quoted asterisk in the custom phone number format
Use this method when the asterisk is only a display symbol and the phone number must remain numeric for calculations or validation.
In a custom number format, an unquoted asterisk has a special fill-character function. Enclose the asterisk in quotation marks so WPS Spreadsheets treats it as literal text while the number remains numeric.
Highlight the cells containing the numeric phone numbers that need the asterisk.
Right-click the selection, choose Format Cells, and open the Number tab.
Select Custom in the category list and click the custom format input box.
For a 10-digit number with a trailing asterisk, enter `000-000-0000 "*"`; for a leading asterisk, enter `"*"000-000-0000`.
Click OK and verify that the asterisk appears while the formula bar still shows the underlying numeric value.
Concatenate the asterisk with a formatted phone number
Use this alternative when the asterisk must be part of the visible text or when the required layout cannot be achieved with a custom number format.
Format Phone Numbers with Literal Asterisks in WPS Spreadsheets
WPS Spreadsheets lets you apply a custom number format that displays an escaped or quoted asterisk beside a phone number while preserving the underlying numeric value. It also supports formula-based text output when the symbol must become part of the result.
- 1. Select the phone number cells: Highlight the numeric phone numbers in WPS Spreadsheets.
- 2. Open custom formatting: Right-click the selection, choose Format Cells, and select Number > Custom.
- 3. Add a literal asterisk: Enter `000-000-0000 "*"` for a trailing asterisk or `"*"000-000-0000` for a leading asterisk.
- 4. Apply and verify: Click OK, then confirm that the display includes the asterisk and the underlying value remains numeric.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an asterisk in a custom number format always display as an asterisk?
No. An unquoted asterisk can act as a fill character in a custom number format. Enclose it in quotation marks, such as `"*"`, when it must display literally.
Can I keep the phone number numeric after adding the asterisk?
Yes. Apply a custom format such as `000-000-0000 "*"` through Format Cells. The asterisk is display-only, so the stored phone number remains numeric.
How do I place the asterisk before the phone number?
Open Format Cells > Number > Custom and use a format such as `"*"000-000-0000`. Adjust the zero pattern to match the number of digits in your phone data.
What happens if I type the asterisk directly into the phone number cell?
The cell content becomes text, which can prevent numeric calculations and affect sorting or validation. Keep the numeric value separate and use a custom format or a TEXT concatenation formula instead.
