Using " " in If functions

[Cazzy123]

Hi I have 2 If functions:

=SUMIF(C3:C7;TRUE;B3:B7) and =COUNTIF(B2:I2;">=70")

Although I understand the equation behind it I always get confused as to
when I should use the " " . As from my examples one of they are required
only in one of these functions.

Could someone please make it easier for me to remember when any why they
should be used.

Thanks

 

[Jacob Skaria]

Double quotes is used to refer anything which is not a cell reference OR a
numeric value..

For Text strings, >,=< etc; you need to enclose within quotes.

So ">=70" is same as ">=" & 70 (since 70 is numeric)

'&' combines the text string within quotes with the numeric value..

If this post helps click Yes

 

[Cazzy123]

Yes this is what I thought Jacob but surely the word TRUE in the SumIF is
classed as text?

Caroline

 

[Jacob Skaria]

TRUE and FALSE are keywords which do not require quotes...Try some other text..

If this post helps click Yes

 

[T. Valko]

=SUMIF(C3:C7;TRUE;B3:B7)

Ready for some confusion?

Suppose you import data from another source and some of that data is the
*TEXT* value TRUE:

TRUE...1
TRUE...1

=SUMIF(A1:A2,TRUE,B1:B2) = 0
=SUMIF(A1:A2,"TRUE",B1:B2) = 0

WTH!

=SUMIF(A1:A2,"*TRUE",B1:B2) = 2

You have to coerce SUMIF to explicitly evaluate TRUE as a text value.

The same thing happens with COUNTIF:

=COUNTIF(A1:A2,TRUE) = 0
=COUNTIF(A1:A2,"TRUE") = 0
=COUNTIF(A1:A2,"*TRUE") = 2

 

[Shane Devenshire]

Hi,

Since >= is text you need quote around it however you can enter the
=COUNTIF(B2:I2;">=70")
=COUNTIF(B2:I2,">="&A1)

In this case A1 would contain 70
In this second case the text portion of the entry is quoted but the cell
reference is not or else it would be treated as text. This form gives you
more flexibility - you don't need to modify formulas to change criteria you
just edit the contents of A1.

Here is an example of counting the number of entries equal or above the
average

=COUNTIF(A1:A14,">="&AVERAGE(A1:A14))

 

[Ashish Mathur]

Hi,

SUMIF(A1:A2,TRUE,B1:B2)
SUMIF(A1:A2,"TRUE",B1:B2)

For me both the functions evaluate to 2. I just typed TRUE in cell A1 and
A2. Am I missing something

--
Regards,

Ashish Mathur
Microsoft Excel MVP
www.ashishmathur.com

 

[T. Valko]

Don't enter boolean TRUE, enter *text* true.