Autosum ignores cell values

[D]

I have inherited a complex spreadsheet and have encountered the following
problem:

I am trying to add up a row and although the formula is correct, the values
are ignored. This happens if I use Autosum or =A1+B1.

Any ideas?

 

[Norman Jones]

Hi D,

Perhaps the iignored values are formatted as text or have an apostophe as a
prefix character?

 

[D]

I've tried changing the formatting and it doesn't appear to be that...

I have somehow managed to get one row adding up, but when I replicate the
formula, it copies down the total from the first row, even though the result
should be different for the different rows...

I am very close to jumping off a tall building!!!!

Thanks in anticipation of more of your words of wisdom.

 

[Norman Jones]

Hi D,

Try:

Select an empty cell | Copy | select all value ceels | Edit | Pastespecial
| Select Values option

 

[D]

I think I have more or less resolved things, but for anyone else who reads
this thread here are a couple of things that I worked out, even though I
don't understand the logic:

the sheet on which the Autosum wouldn't work was picking up the values from
4 other sheets to total them. If I changed the Autosum to =A1+A2 it resolved
it.

The Autosum worked on the total sheet as long as it was only picking up
values from that sheet.

The replication worked as long as the formula was format =A1+A2.

Thank you so much for your help!
D