Then you must have text (rather than a number) in one or more of your cells.

Do this:
-- Enter 1 in an empty cell
-- Copy that cell
-- Highlight cells a1 through e4
-- Right click, choose Paste Special... Multiply.

Do the results come through now?

Regards,
Fred

"Stumped" wrote in message
...
tried what you suggested and got #value error. have tried several versions
of
what u sent with no success. I really am stumped

"Fred Smith" wrote:

e1: =c1+d1-a1-b1
Format as desired
e5: = sum(e1:e4)
Format as desired

Regards,
Fred

"Stumped" wrote in message
...
E got cut off should be at the end.

"Stumped" wrote:

A | B | C | D
|
E
1| 12/09/04 | 3:45 PM | 05/15/06 | 1:00 AM |
2|
3|
4|
5|

Log for short and long term visits. Colums A&B being start date and
time
in
that format Colums C&D being end date and time.
Need E1 to = total duration in Format YY/MM/DD HH:MM
And E5 to = total of E1:E4 in the Format YY/MM/DD HH:MM
Please help, been at this problem for weeks now.

.