In Excel 2002, and later versions, you can turn on the error checking
feature, and set it to mark cells with numbers stored as text:

Choose ToolsOptions
On the Error tab, add a check mark to
'Enable background error checking'
Add a check mark to 'Numbers stored as text'
Click OK

ראובן wrote:
Thank you
1. After analysis I found that the first two values were not numbers
(applying the ISNUMBER function resulted as False).
2. I got the file from a colleague who was not aware to the problem.
3. But my problem is that I could multiply "non numbers" and get a correct
result (and this supposed to be a tool to verify if these values were
numbers), and at the same time the "SUM" function ignored them.
Who knows how many times we had summarized "Non Numeric" numbers without
being aware that we had a problem.
I know how to fix it this time, but I'm afraid that every time I will use
excel, it will be required to verify that no "Non Numbers" infected my
spreadsheets.
thank you




"Doug Kanter" wrote:


I've never seen Excel format a cell as text without human assistance. Could
you spreadsheet have been a victim of slippery fingers, perhaps before
enough cups of coffee in the morning?

"?????" wrote in message
...

the values we 200 135 360 80 350 350
and the summay was: 1140
the first two values were not included in the Sum.
reuven

"Gary's Student" wrote:


What are the specific values that are being miss-calculated?
--
Gary's Student


"?????" wrote:


I'm using excel for years but today I was shocked. almost died.
While summarizing a column of numbers, the summary was incorrect.
I suspected that few cells contained text rather than numbers so I
multiplied every cell in the column and got the correct number.
So I assume that sometimes excel ignores cells and sometimes considers
them.
What if the numbers are significant amounts of money? How can I rely on
excel?
I will be happy to send this little sheet to you.
do i have to crosscheck every spreadsheet i use?
reuven






--
Debra Dalgleish
Excel FAQ, Tips & Book List
http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html