Problem with sum function not adding range

Q

Quahogboy

I have a spreadsheet that I am using that I cannot figure out. Someon
else here is having the same difficulty as well and nobody knows wha
to do about it.

The sum function is being used yet the total for the range that
specify is coming up zero even though the sum should be a positiv
number (ex. 2+3+4+2). It should equal 11 but the cell is showing a
zero.

The really strange thing is that when I select the cells by draggin
across them, I am not getting the sum to show up in the lower righ
corner as it typically does. I am not sure what to call this field bu
it sums any cells that you hightlight with the mouse. There is nothin
showing up when I do this.

Can someone please explain to me what the cause of this might be an
how to solve it? Thank you
 
N

Norman Harker

Hi Quahogboy!

Sounds like those numbers are formatted as text.

Convert them to numbers by

Select an empty cell
Copy
Select the text numbers
Edit > Paste Special > Add > OK
 
D

DDM

Quahog, quite likely your numbers aren't really numbers but text. Try this:

1-Select an enpty cell and copy it
2-Select the numbers to be summed and Edit > Paste Special > Add > OK.

That should fix it. It should also fix the AutoCalculate feature (the
numbers that appear on the Status bar). If it doesn't, select the numbers,
right-click the status bar and select Sum.
 
R

RagDyeR

You're numbers are probably not "true" numbers, but 'Text".

Instead of SUM(), try to add two of these cells with something like this:
=A1+A2
And you'll probably get a total.

BUT, to convert these "text" numbers to true XL numbers,
Right click an unused, empty cell, which should be formatted as "General" by
default, and choose "Copy".

Select the cells with the "bad" numbers,
Right click in this selection, and choose "Paste Special".
Click on "Add", then <OK>, and you should now have "good" numbers.
--

HTH,

RD
==============================================
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==============================================

I have a spreadsheet that I am using that I cannot figure out. Someone
else here is having the same difficulty as well and nobody knows what
to do about it.

The sum function is being used yet the total for the range that I
specify is coming up zero even though the sum should be a positive
number (ex. 2+3+4+2). It should equal 11 but the cell is showing as
zero.

The really strange thing is that when I select the cells by dragging
across them, I am not getting the sum to show up in the lower right
corner as it typically does. I am not sure what to call this field but
it sums any cells that you hightlight with the mouse. There is nothing
showing up when I do this.

Can someone please explain to me what the cause of this might be and
how to solve it? Thank you!
 
Q

Quahogboy

To All:

Thank you so much for your help. That was the solution. The number
were being exported out of a program into the spreadsheet and some o
the numbers were not set up as "numbers". Therefore, they were comin
in as you said -- text. Once I realized that was the problem we wen
into the exporting program, made some adjustments and now the number
coming in are correctly working.

Thanks again
 
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