Microsoft KB Archive/284921

= WD2000: Error Message: &quot;Invalid Character Setting&quot; in SUM Formula Field =

Article ID: 284921

Article Last Modified on 1/10/2001

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q284921



SYMPTOMS
When you use the SUM formula field to total the numbers in a table row or column, you receive the following error message:

Invalid Character Setting



CAUSE
When the decimal symbol and the list separator are both the same character, for example, a comma, Word cannot successfully parse an expression. For example, Word cannot determine whether &quot;100,2&quot; represents 100.2 or 100 and 2.

This problem occurs when the locale setting is one of the following:
 * Argentina
 * Bolivia
 * Chile
 * Colombia
 * Costa Rica
 * Ecuador
 * Paraguay
 * Peru
 * Uruguay
 * Venezuela



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, change the list separator under the regional options to a semicolon. To do this, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
 * 2) Double-click the Regional Settings icon (Microsoft Windows NT or Microsoft Windows 98) or the Regional Options icon (Microsoft Windows 2000).
 * 3) On the Numbers tab (Windows NT) or the Number tab (Windows 2000 or Windows 98) in the List separator box, type a semicolon (;) and then click OK.

The setting can also be changed programmatically. For additional information, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

126625 HOWTO: Change the International Settings Programmatically

Additional query words: word2000 word2k wd2000 wd2k regional list separator errmsg region country

Keywords: kbprb KB284921

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