I cannot get a column of numbers to sum, why?

H

HHG

I have tried everything! I have a column of numbers that I need to add
together, and I cannot get it to work. All I get in a big fat 0! I down
loaded the information from my bank. I have tried reformatting the cells,
but nothing seems to help. If I type in the numbers in the next column, and
use the sum function, it works...but I do not want to type in over 3000
numbers! I have even tried copying and pasting the column to another
column...I am stumped...can anyone help - PLEASE!
 
B

barnabel

Is it possible that the bank numbers downloaded as text? If you select one
of the cells and look at the value in the fomula window you will see a single
quote infront of the number.

Create a column next to the bank numbers that say "=value(C1)" (assuming the
banks number is in C1) and then copy that down the column. Then you should
be able to sum that.
 
G

Guest

HHG said:
I have tried everything! I have a column of numbers that I need to add
together, and I cannot get it to work. All I get in a big fat 0! I down
loaded the information from my bank. I have tried reformatting the cells,
but nothing seems to help. If I type in the numbers in the next column, and
use the sum function, it works...but I do not want to type in over 3000
numbers! I have even tried copying and pasting the column to another
column...I am stumped...can anyone help - PLEASE!
Click to expand...

Are you sure they're actually numbers and not text? If you have an
entry in cell A1, for example, then over in B1 put:

[B1] = isnumber(A1)

That will tell you definitively whether it's actually text. If it is
you need to convert to numbers before you can sum them. For example:

[B1] = value(A1)

Good luck...

Bill
 
H

HHG

Well...it is NOT a number, but when I entered in "=value(E235)" it returned a
#VALUE! error. E235 is ONE of the cells I am trying to fix. Any other
ideas? They look like numbers, nothing indicates that they are not (except
your little test, and the fact they wont add!) I'm at my witts end...thanks
for any additional help you can give me...if you are able to. - HHG

Bill Martin -- (Remove NOSPAM from addre said:
HHG said:
I have tried everything! I have a column of numbers that I need to add
together, and I cannot get it to work. All I get in a big fat 0! I down
loaded the information from my bank. I have tried reformatting the cells,
but nothing seems to help. If I type in the numbers in the next column, and
use the sum function, it works...but I do not want to type in over 3000
numbers! I have even tried copying and pasting the column to another
column...I am stumped...can anyone help - PLEASE!
Click to expand...

Are you sure they're actually numbers and not text? If you have an
entry in cell A1, for example, then over in B1 put:

[B1] = isnumber(A1)

That will tell you definitively whether it's actually text. If it is
you need to convert to numbers before you can sum them. For example:

[B1] = value(A1)

Good luck...

Bill
Click to expand...
 
H

HHG

In step 2, what do you mean by "when using this cell use absolute reference"?
what I know about absolute reference is something like this: $a$1 How would
I use this in what you are saying...sorry I'm not thinking very straight
right now...thanks for your help!
 
M

Mark

Hi,
Copy the contents of the page, not sheet copy but select
all cells will do and paste into a new sheet. The sheet
you are using maybe a text sheet or web page that looks
like an excel sheet. better to open a new workbook and
paste the clipboard contents into that one then try the
sum.

also,
If you highlight the column of numbers, your status bar at
the bottom right (in the grey part) will show the sum
value.
- Mark

See my stuff at:

http://www.geocities.com/excelmarksway



Joke of the day:
Q: What's the difference between mens toilet and womens
toilet?

A: Mens toilet seat is always wet!!

HA! ha! Ha!
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

I have tried everything! I have a column of numbers that I need to add
together, and I cannot get it to work. All I get in a big fat 0! I down
loaded the information from my bank. I have tried reformatting the cells,
but nothing seems to help. If I type in the numbers in the next column, and
use the sum function, it works...but I do not want to type in over 3000
numbers! I have even tried copying and pasting the column to another
column...I am stumped...can anyone help - PLEASE!
Click to expand...

With a number in A1, try this formula:

=--TRIM(SUBSTITUTE(A1,CHAR(160),""))

to convert the entry to text. You should then be able to add the numbers.


--ron
 
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