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#1
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange
formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? -- Steve |
#2
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
Formulas in Excel start with the = symbol. That's the basic rule.
"Steve" wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? -- Steve |
#3
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
Don't use a + sign. Positive 547 divided by positive 5 need only be entered
as =547/7. For negative numbers, you DO need to enter the sign: =-547/-7 etc. Dave -- A hint to posters: Specific, detailed questions are more likely to be answered than questions that provide no detail about your problem. "Steve" wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? -- Steve |
#4
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
I had to try this for myself
never would believe it otherwise. odd, but of course +123/6 is usually entered as =123/6 so I can only assume its treating the + as some sort of accounting code. odd bearing in mind accounting doesn't usually invlove fractions :) On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:54:00 -0000, Steve wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? -- Steve (3) |
#5
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
I had to try this for myself
never would believe it otherwise. odd, but of course +123/6 is usually entered as =123/6 so I can only assume its treating the + as some sort of accounting code. odd bearing in mind accounting doesn't usually invlove fractions :) Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:54:00 -0000, Steve wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? |
#6
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
I should also ask, what version of Excel are you using, AND what is the
format of the cell when you first enter the formula. In my copy of Excel (2003 or 2007) just starting with a new book, entering either =547/5 or +547/5 or =+547/5 results in Excel correcting my 'errors' and displaying a result of 109.4 in all cases. And in the cases where I entered +547/5 or =+547/5, Excel changed them both to become =547/5 "Steve" wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? -- Steve |
#7
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
try setting format to accounting before entering +547/5 or even =547/5
Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:11:01 -0000, JLatham <HelpFrom Jlathamsite.com. wrote: I should also ask, what version of Excel are you using, AND what is the format of the cell when you first enter the formula. In my copy of Excel (2003 or 2007) just starting with a new book, entering either =547/5 or +547/5 or =+547/5 results in Excel correcting my 'errors' and displaying a result of 109..4 in all cases. And in the cases where I entered +547/5 or =+547/5, Excel changed them both to become =547/5 "Steve" wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? |
#8
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
try it with = then - same thing
Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:06:02 -0000, JLatham <HelpFrom Jlathamsite.com. wrote: Formulas in Excel start with the = symbol. That's the basic rule. "Steve" wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? |
#9
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
try it
it converts to fraction fomat even if you type =547/ Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:07:08 -0000, Dave F wrote: Don't use a + sign. Positive 547 divided by positive 5 need only be entered as =547/7. For negative numbers, you DO need to enter the sign: =-547/-7 etc. Dave |
#10
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
if this was a test 3 posters have failed so far.
they aren't reading all of your post :) It must be something to do with the Accounting format the leading + or = isn't needed 1/1 would give 01-Jan, but here it doesn't so it must be to allow fraction input can't find anything about it though Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:54:00 -0000, Steve wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? |
#11
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
Odd.
Why would you ever put a + sign in front of a formula? I can only see a need for putting a - sign in front of a formula, either to negate a positive number or to make positive a negative number. Dave -- A hint to posters: Specific, detailed questions are more likely to be answered than questions that provide no detail about your problem. "SteveW" wrote: try it it converts to fraction fomat even if you type =547/ Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:07:08 -0000, Dave F wrote: Don't use a + sign. Positive 547 divided by positive 5 need only be entered as =547/7. For negative numbers, you DO need to enter the sign: =-547/-7 etc. Dave |
#12
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
What exactly are you doing?
I set the cell format to Accounting, then entered =100/2. Result: $50. Last I checked this was correct. Is there some new math I'm unaware of? -- A hint to posters: Specific, detailed questions are more likely to be answered than questions that provide no detail about your problem. "SteveW" wrote: try setting format to accounting before entering +547/5 or even =547/5 Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:11:01 -0000, JLatham <HelpFrom Jlathamsite.com. wrote: I should also ask, what version of Excel are you using, AND what is the format of the cell when you first enter the formula. In my copy of Excel (2003 or 2007) just starting with a new book, entering either =547/5 or +547/5 or =+547/5 results in Excel correcting my 'errors' and displaying a result of 109..4 in all cases. And in the cases where I entered +547/5 or =+547/5, Excel changed them both to become =547/5 "Steve" wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? |
#13
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
in fact you don't even need the +
just enter 1/4 which would normally be a date Again can't see why Accounting would want 1/4 to go in as fraction *and* change the format of the cell to Fraction Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:31:01 -0000, Dave F wrote: Odd. Why would you ever put a + sign in front of a formula? I can only see a need for putting a - sign in front of a formula, either to negate a positive number or to make positive a negative number. Dave |
#14
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
new workbook
a1 Format cell as Accounting enter 5 result £5.00 enter 1/4 result 1/4 and format of cell changes enter 5 result 5 Im on Excel 2000 Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:32:02 -0000, Dave F wrote: What exactly are you doing? I set the cell format to Accounting, then entered =100/2. Result: $50. Last I checked this was correct. Is there some new math I'm unaware of? -- Steve (3) |
#15
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Formula entry using "+" causing format errors
Guys, thanks for the input. I'm using Office 2003.
I understand the proper way to enter the formula is starting with =. I just could not believe the result. You have confirmed it's not just me and my computer's not haunted. I think this has something to do with Excel's transition functions. In any case, I can easily avoid the poblem. Thanks again - Steve "SteveW" wrote: try setting format to accounting before entering +547/5 or even =547/5 Steve On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:11:01 -0000, JLatham <HelpFrom Jlathamsite.com. wrote: I should also ask, what version of Excel are you using, AND what is the format of the cell when you first enter the formula. In my copy of Excel (2003 or 2007) just starting with a new book, entering either =547/5 or +547/5 or =+547/5 results in Excel correcting my 'errors' and displaying a result of 109..4 in all cases. And in the cases where I entered +547/5 or =+547/5, Excel changed them both to become =547/5 "Steve" wrote: When I enter a division formula by starting with a + sign. I get strange formating results. 1. enter the formula "+547/5" in a cell 2. change the format of that cell to accounting 3. reenter the formula The format gets changed to a fraction and the formula is converted to a number. What's happening? |
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