Summing a column, result coming up 0
 

I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations. In
column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value of 1, 2,
3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely coming, probably,
possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column G), I have successfully
managed to use the IF function to enter in each cell as a decimal number
between 0 and 1 the probability that that guest will come. Here is the
formula for the first cell in that column:
=IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4 ,".2"))))

So far so good.

Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
=SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm looking at
a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four results in them (i.e.,
..95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by hand, I get a result of 222.6.

Please help me.

?B?dGhvbWFzamVmZmVyc29u?=
wrote in
:

I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations.
In column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value
of 1, 2, 3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely
coming, probably, possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column
G), I have successfully managed to use the IF function to enter in
each cell as a decimal number between 0 and 1 the probability that
that guest will come. Here is the formula for the first cell in that
column: =IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4 ,".2"))))

So far so good.

Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
=SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm
looking at a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four
results in them (i.e., .95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by
hand, I get a result of 222.6.

Please help me.


That is because you do not assign values but text! Drop the " and the
result will be better.


--

It is I, DeauDeau
(Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)

Hi,

Just remove all quotation marks (") from your formulae. Currently they
return text (".45") instead of numeric values (.45).

Regards,
KL


"thomasjefferson" wrote in
message ...
I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations. In
column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value of 1,
2,
3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely coming, probably,
possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column G), I have successfully
managed to use the IF function to enter in each cell as a decimal number
between 0 and 1 the probability that that guest will come. Here is the
formula for the first cell in that column:
=IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4 ,".2"))))

So far so good.

Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
=SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm looking
at
a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four results in them
(i.e.,
.95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by hand, I get a result of
222.6.

Please help me.

You get the answer 0 because you're summing text values. ".95" is text, but
if you change the formula to
=IF(F2=1,0.95,IF(F2=2,0.75,IF(F2=3,0.45,IF(F2=4,0. 2)))) you will get numbers
which will give you a total when you sum them.

"thomasjefferson" wrote:

I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations. In
column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value of 1, 2,
3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely coming, probably,
possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column G), I have successfully
managed to use the IF function to enter in each cell as a decimal number
between 0 and 1 the probability that that guest will come. Here is the
formula for the first cell in that column:
=IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4 ,".2"))))

So far so good.

Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
=SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm looking at
a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four results in them (i.e.,
.95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by hand, I get a result of 222.6.

Please help me.

Wow. You guys rock. Thank you so much for the simple answer to my dilemma.
I tried Excel's help screen and Microsoft.com's database, but I just couldn't
figure it out.

"thomasjefferson" wrote:

I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations. In
column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value of 1, 2,
3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely coming, probably,
possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column G), I have successfully
managed to use the IF function to enter in each cell as a decimal number
between 0 and 1 the probability that that guest will come. Here is the
formula for the first cell in that column:
=IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4 ,".2"))))

So far so good.

Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
=SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm looking at
a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four results in them (i.e.,
.95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by hand, I get a result of 222.6.

Please help me.