Problem with "Sum" in Excel 2003

[Katrin]

I am suffering a new bug in my Excel spreadsheets. When I ask Excel to SUM a
column, or perform a simple multiplication of 2 cells, for example, I get " $
- ". I have been careful to check and double check the equations and the
cells referenced. I am a competent Excel user and am mystified by this as it
seems to happen over and over on different calculations. I have checked to
see if my software is up to date and it appears to be.

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Katrin,

When I ask Excel to SUM a
column, or perform a simple multiplication of 2 cells

Exactly how do you "ask Excel" this?

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com

 

[Katrin]

I either type in "=SUM(X1:X5)" or use the SUM symbol in the tool bar to
"communicate" this automatically...
: )

 

[Jerry W. Lewis]

If =COUNT(range) gives zero, then your data is actualy text that only looks
like numbers.

Jerry

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi Katrin,

I either type in "=SUM(X1:X5)" or use the SUM symbol in the tool bar to
"communicate" this automatically...

I expect this is a problem with the number format of the cell(s) in question.
Select the cell, hit control+1 and change the number format to general. If that
shows you the expected number, then try one of the financial number formats.

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com
Member of:
Professional Office Developer Association
www.proofficedev.com