Configuration that affects everything.
WHAT THESE CONTROL
Date and time format Number and currency format Which decimal and thousands separators are used Keyboard layout Spelling dictionary
WHY THEY MATTER MORE THAN EXPECTED
Spreadsheets interpret dates and numbers according to these settings.
WHAT THAT CAUSES
A file created under one setting misread under another Dates transposed between day and month Numbers read as text
WHAT TO SET
A consistent configuration across everyone who exchanges files.
WHAT TO AGREE
One date format, written the same way everywhere.
WHAT TO PREFER FOR FILENAMES AND DATA
Year, then month, then day, in numbers.
WHY
It is unambiguous and sorts correctly.
WHAT TO CHECK
Your time zone, which affects timestamps on everything you produce.
WHAT TO SET FOR SPELLING
A dictionary matching the variety of English you write.
WHY
Otherwise correct spellings are flagged constantly and ignored.
WHAT TO ADD
Names and terms you use regularly.
WHAT TO VERIFY
That your keyboard layout matches what is printed on the keys.
