Format() returns a string (or "quoted format"), so on first row you still have number which you use as input. Then JMP converts all the values to characters in the column -> no more number
Names Default To Here(1);
dt = New Table("Untitled",
Add Rows(2),
Compress File When Saved(1),
New Column("Column 1", Numeric, "Continuous", Format("Best", 12), Set Values([1, 2]))
);
For Each Row(dt,
show(type(:"Column 1"n));
:"Column 1"n = Format(:"Column 1"n, "Fixed Dec", 16, 3, "Use thousands separator")
);
-Jarmo