Adding numbers in a column

[Holden Caulfield]

I've been noticing that Excel 2003 is incorrectly adding up the numbers in a
column. Anyone know why this is and is there a fix for it?

 

[SteveW]

I've been noticing that Excel 2003 is incorrectly adding up the numbers
in a
column. Anyone know why this is and is there a fix for it?

a small example would be nice.

Mine works fine - with the numbers I get it to add

 

[Duke Carey]

Are these numbers with decimals, by any chance?

The culprit it always the difference between the displayed values and the
values in the cells. So, you might see three cells that each show 1.02, that
would appear to sum to 3.06. However, the value in each of the cells is
1.017. When those are added the result is 3.05

You can either 1) use ROUND() function on each of the cells, 2) tell Excel
to display more decimals to allow you to see the true values

 

[Gord Dibben]

Could be one or more of several reasons for this.

First of all...........What is "incorrect"?

A few decimal points off?

Some numbers not being added?

Nothing being added?

Is calculation set to Automatic?

Are the numbers imported and maybe came in as text?

Please post with some more detail.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Wendy]

I've been noticing that Excel 2003 is incorrectly adding up the numbers in a
column. Anyone know why this is and is there a fix for it?

 

[Wendy]

I've been having the same kind of problem. One thing I've discovered is
that if some of the numbers in the cell is a sum of numbers in other columns,
and some of the numbers are numbers that I've indicated are 'equal to'
numbers in another column, or numbers that I've entered on my own, excel does
not include all of the numbers when I sum them

I've gone back and changed the summed totals by typing in that total and it
will work, but it's sure a pain. I've never run across this problem before
now when I've used Excel, so am not sure if there is something wrong with my
present software.

 

[Gord Dibben]

The most common cause of this is that some of the "numbers" are actually text.

Simply re-formatting will not help.

Re-format all to general then copy an empty cell.

Select the "numbers" and Edit>paste Specail>Add>OK>Esc.

Excel should now treat those as real nunbers.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Susan Carrier]

I have discovered that there is another way to get Excel to "recognize" a
change in format from text to general.....highlight the column and use the
TextToColumns feature (fixed width with 1 column defined). I use this all the
time when my VLOOKUP functions don't work because of the links are different
data formats.

Susan Carrier

 

[Gord Dibben]

Thanks for that tip Susan.

My canned response will include that from now on if poster indicates only one
column is concerned.

If more than one column. the T to C won't work.


Gord

I have discovered that there is another way to get Excel to "recognize" a
change in format from text to general.....highlight the column and use the
TextToColumns feature (fixed width with 1 column defined). I use this all the
time when my VLOOKUP functions don't work because of the links are different
data formats.

Susan Carrier

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Wendy]

Thanks to all for your input. Hopefully that will take care of my problem!
Wendy