I have a formula that contains a cell with a number that has an asterisk at
the end which refers the reader to a footnote at the end of the spreadsheet.
Excel is trying to use the asterisk in the equation. Is their a way to tell
Excel that the asterisk is not part of the formula? e.g.,
a1=100
a2=100
a3=100*
a4=100
a5=100
Total=#VALUE!
when what I really want is just =500

Any help will be appreciated.

Thank you.

Ace wrote:
I have a formula that contains a cell with a number that has an asterisk at
the end which refers the reader to a footnote at the end of the spreadsheet.
Excel is trying to use the asterisk in the equation. Is their a way to tell
Excel that the asterisk is not part of the formula? e.g.,
a1=100
a2=100
a3=100*
a4=100
a5=100
Total=#VALUE!
when what I really want is just =500

Any help will be appreciated.

Thank you.


Put the asterisk in a comment. Better yet, put the footnote in the
comment. If you don't want to use comments, insert a column after column
A, reduce its width to one character and put the asterisk there.

Bill

Excel cannot use footnotes (as distinct from footers)
The asterisk is used by Excel as the multiplication operator
Perhaps inserting a comment might work for you
best wishes
--
Bernard V Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme
remove caps from email


"Ace" wrote in message
...
I have a formula that contains a cell with a number that has an asterisk
at
the end which refers the reader to a footnote at the end of the
spreadsheet.
Excel is trying to use the asterisk in the equation. Is their a way to
tell
Excel that the asterisk is not part of the formula? e.g.,
a1=100
a2=100
a3=100*
a4=100
a5=100
Total=#VALUE!
when what I really want is just =500

Any help will be appreciated.

Thank you.

=SUMPRODUCT(SUBSTITUTE(A1:A5,"*","")+0)


"Ace" wrote:

I have a formula that contains a cell with a number that has an asterisk at
the end which refers the reader to a footnote at the end of the spreadsheet.
Excel is trying to use the asterisk in the equation. Is their a way to tell
Excel that the asterisk is not part of the formula? e.g.,
a1=100
a2=100
a3=100*
a4=100
a5=100
Total=#VALUE!
when what I really want is just =500

Any help will be appreciated.

Thank you.