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Excel Sum Function Not Working Correctly

Discussion in 'Other PC Software' started by rtstanley, 2004/08/04.

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  1. 2004/08/04
    rtstanley

    rtstanley Inactive Thread Starter

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    Are there any Excel experts out there that would like to have a look?
    I have rows and columns. If I add the columns up manually in a formula (e.g. A1+A2+A3+A4+A5, etc) the result is correct. However, if I use the SUM function (e.g. =SUM(A1:A5), the results are not correct. I have the same sort of problem when summing rows. Please HELP! Looks like an excel bug to me. I would be happy to send a small excel file to someone if they care to take a look. Thanks as always!
     
    Last edited: 2004/08/04
  2. 2004/08/05
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    Which version of Excel? I can't believe that such a commonly used function would fail so obviously - I think it is probably something wrong with your installation or coruption in the sheet.
     

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  4. 2004/08/05
    merlin

    merlin Inactive

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    Strange ! Do the cells you add have different decimal sizes, different numerical sizes ? Have you any "automate" options set ? Are the fields
    you add up on the same worksheet/workbook ?
    regards
     
    Last edited: 2004/08/05
  5. 2004/08/05
    merlin

    merlin Inactive

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    Just had another thought on this.
    If you set a cell to =Sum(A1:A4) - is correct ?
    Or =Sum(A2:A5) is OK ? and so on ... (A4:A5) ....
    Trying to see if a cell is corrupted ...
    regards
     
  6. 2004/08/05
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    Nice direction you're going in Merlin. If the cells are different formats you may get some odd results - especially if one is a date or time.

    Following on from Merlin, Copy the cells you are adding up. Then right click in an empty area of sheet and select "Paste Special ". Select to paste values only. Then try to sum the pasted values. What do you get then?

    Also just create a line of five cells and put a "1" in each cell. Then SUM those cells. Do you get 5? If not there's something wrong with your Excel install.

    SUM is a function - just a predefined function as opposed to user define function. It is possible it has become corupted. If so a reinstall of Office might fix it. If that doesn't it is a case of tracking down the root template, deleting that and reinstalling I think.
     
  7. 2004/08/06
    rtstanley

    rtstanley Inactive Thread Starter

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    I figured out my problem. I had actually created another spreadsheet from a text file (comma delimited). As I stepped through the excel screens, I inadvertently set one of the column formats as text only. When you cut-n-paste this into another spreadsheet, it "looks" like numbers in the cells - but excel treats the cell as text. If you double-click each cell, then hit carriage return, the cell converts to number (actually general).

    Sorry for wasting some of your time. I love this usergroup.
     
  8. 2004/08/07
    merlin

    merlin Inactive

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    Hi, pleased you solved the problem and thanks for posting back.
    No need to be sorry about wasting anyone's time - it was a problem,
    it got solved and we are all the wiser !
    regards
     
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