Microsoft KB Archive/146646

= WD: Plus Sign Causes Incorrect Result in Formula =

Article ID: 146646

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 6.0a
 * Microsoft Word 6.0c
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95a

-



This article was previously published under Q146646





SYMPTOMS
When you calculate the sum of a series of cells that contain numbers preceded by a plus (+) sign, the result is incorrectly shown as the sum of the negative numbers contained in the series or may be shown as zero when each of the numbers in the series is preceded by a plus sign.

-or-

When you calculate the average of a series of cells that contain numbers preceded by a plus (+) sign, the result is incorrectly shown as the average of the negative numbers or may be shown as 0.0 when each of the numbers in the series is preceded by a plus sign.



Method 1: Remove the Plus Signs
The plus sign is not required by Word to identify the number as positive.

Method 2: Move the Plus Signs to a New Column
Add a column to your table, move the plus signs to the new column, and then update the formula field.

NOTE: Do not move the negative signs to the new column, or your formula field result will be incorrect.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

142507 WD: How to Set Up a Table as a Spreadsheet in Word

Additional query words: math wrong

Keywords: kberrmsg kbbug kbfield kbformula kbpending KB146646

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.