I copied some data (numbers) from the net to an Excell spreadsheet. If I use
the =(cell+cell+cell) the addition is correct. If I use the sum function, it
returns the last number in the range. Also, I cannot print the worksheet.
Please help.
--
JimBUFF

Hi,

This means that some of the numbers are text. The =A1+B1 type of formula
coerces the text numbers into number but SUM does not.

Problem:
When numbers are enter as text they may not calculate within formulas as
they should. A few formulas will work fine despite the numbers being entered
as text. Numbers can be stored as text by 1. preformatting the cell to Text
and entering the number, 2. Typing an apostrophy in front of the number '123,
3. Because the data was downloaded from a soure inwhich it was stored as a
number, 4. Because you used the Text to Columns command and converted it to
text., and....

There is no sure indicator that a number is stored as text, although numbers
are usually right aligned and text left aligned, this may not be the case.
If you are using a later version of Excel, Error Checking green triangles may
appear at the top left corner of these cell, but this feature may be off or
the version of Excel may not support it. (2000 and earlier).

You can find out what data type the entries are by using the =ISTEXT(A1) or
=ISNUMBER(A1) functions. You can not tell by checking the Format. If a
number was entered in a cell preformatted as General or as a number, then it
will be a number, even if it's current format is Text. Likewise a number
entered in a cell preformatted as Text will be text even if it's current
format is Number, General, Date, Currency and the like.

Solution:
1. Change the format to one that is numeric and then reenter the numbers
(too slow and error prone.)
2. Select the cells and open the Error Checking options and choose Convert
to Numbers.
3. Select an empty cell and copy it. Select the text number cell and choose
Edit, Paste Special, Add (or Subtract). This method is ~100 times faster
than #2.

Dates are numbers, and if they are stored as text, you will not get an Error
Checking triangle, so method #3 is obligatory if there is a substantial
number of dates to convert.

I don't know about the printing problem, need more info.

If this information is helpful, please click the Yes button.
--
Thanks,
Shane Devenshire


"JimBUFF" wrote:

I copied some data (numbers) from the net to an Excell spreadsheet. If I use
the =(cell+cell+cell) the addition is correct. If I use the sum function, it
returns the last number in the range. Also, I cannot print the worksheet.
Please help.
--
JimBUFF

Thank you very much. I used the text for text or number function as you
outlined and learned that most of the values were stored as text. I then used
your 3rd method to convert to numbers - worked beautiful - thanks - Now still
can't print the worksheet - printer seems to be printing but the sheet comes
out blank???

--
JimBUFF


"ShaneDevenshire" wrote:

Hi,

This means that some of the numbers are text. The =A1+B1 type of formula
coerces the text numbers into number but SUM does not.

Problem:
When numbers are enter as text they may not calculate within formulas as
they should. A few formulas will work fine despite the numbers being entered
as text. Numbers can be stored as text by 1. preformatting the cell to Text
and entering the number, 2. Typing an apostrophy in front of the number '123,
3. Because the data was downloaded from a soure inwhich it was stored as a
number, 4. Because you used the Text to Columns command and converted it to
text., and....

There is no sure indicator that a number is stored as text, although numbers
are usually right aligned and text left aligned, this may not be the case.
If you are using a later version of Excel, Error Checking green triangles may
appear at the top left corner of these cell, but this feature may be off or
the version of Excel may not support it. (2000 and earlier).

You can find out what data type the entries are by using the =ISTEXT(A1) or
=ISNUMBER(A1) functions. You can not tell by checking the Format. If a
number was entered in a cell preformatted as General or as a number, then it
will be a number, even if it's current format is Text. Likewise a number
entered in a cell preformatted as Text will be text even if it's current
format is Number, General, Date, Currency and the like.

Solution:
1. Change the format to one that is numeric and then reenter the numbers
(too slow and error prone.)
2. Select the cells and open the Error Checking options and choose Convert
to Numbers.
3. Select an empty cell and copy it. Select the text number cell and choose
Edit, Paste Special, Add (or Subtract). This method is ~100 times faster
than #2.

Dates are numbers, and if they are stored as text, you will not get an Error
Checking triangle, so method #3 is obligatory if there is a substantial
number of dates to convert.

I don't know about the printing problem, need more info.

If this information is helpful, please click the Yes button.
--
Thanks,
Shane Devenshire


"JimBUFF" wrote:

I copied some data (numbers) from the net to an Excell spreadsheet. If I use
the =(cell+cell+cell) the addition is correct. If I use the sum function, it
returns the last number in the range. Also, I cannot print the worksheet.
Please help.
--
JimBUFF