Typically, you get the ### characters when you attempt to display a
time with a negative value. Without seeing the formula you are using,
it is difficult to give an answer. However, you can use the ISNUMBER
function to test whether a cell has a numeric value. E.g.,

=IF(ISNUMBER(A1),A1,"Not Number")

Here, if A1 is numeric, it will be displayed. If A1 is not numeric,
the text "Not Number" will be displayed. Beyond that, it is hard to
propose a solution without seeing the formula that is causing the
problem.

Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
Excel Product Group, 1998 - 2009
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on web site)


On Thu, 8 Jan 2009 09:37:01 -0800, Leo
wrote:

On a timesheet, if a person did not work they have to type in why. However
this results in a "####" in the 'Total Hours' cell that contains the formula.
If using alpha characters in a cell that is referenced by a formula, how can
you get the result to just be a blank cell, and not the "####"? Thank you!