Microsoft KB Archive/23532

= WD: Calculation Provides Incorrect Answer =

Article ID: 23532

Article Last Modified on 11/21/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 4.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 5.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 5.1 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q23532



SYMPTOMS
A calculation in Microsoft Word for the Macintosh displays the wrong number in the lower-left corner of the window.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, check the following possibilities:

 Make sure each entire number is selected. When selecting a column by holding down OPTION and dragging, you can select portions of the column and portions of a number. If only a portion of the number is selected, only that portion of the number is involved in the calculation. Be sure the number "1" is not the letter "l", and the number "0" is not the letter "O." See if the symbols for plus (+), minus (-), asterisk (*), or slash mark (/) fall within the selection. Word ignores any letters or other characters in the selection, but uses these special symbols in the calculation for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (respectively). If there is an underline in the selected area, be sure the underline character is being used, and not a line of hyphens (--), which would be confused with subtraction symbols. In Word 5.x and earlier, if a decimal value is expected for an answer, make sure one of the numbers in the calculation has as many decimal places as is desired for the answer to appear in (for example, 1/5 would yield "0", 1/5.00 would yield 0.20). If a calculation involves division, make sure you use a forward slash mark (/) for a division symbol, not a backslash (\). A backslash would be ignored in a calculation (for example, 1\5 would yield "6" because the numbers would be added instead of one being divided by the other). If you are using Word 4.0, there is a problem in which the value "- 1.0" is interpreted as -.9 ("-1.0" is interpreted as "-.99," etc.). Keep this in mind when dealing with negative numbers or subtractions in calculations.</li>  If an operator is formatted as hidden text and is not visible on the screen, the visible numbers default to the addition operation. For example, if 2*8 is entered and the "*" is formatted as hidden text, selecting "2 8" and pressing COMMAND+= (EQUAL SIGN) results in the value 10 (instead of 16, if the "*" was visible).

To get the correct calculation, view hidden text by using the appropriate method for your version of Word.

Word 98
<ol> On the Tools menu, click Preferences.</li> On the View tab, click to select the Hidden Text check box.</li> Click OK.</li></ol>

Word 6
<ol> On the Tools menu, click Options.</li> On the View tab, click to select the Hidden Text check box.</li> Click OK.</li></ol>

Word 5
<ol> On the Tools menu, click Preferences.</li> Click the View category, and then click to select Hidden Text.</li> Close the Preferences window.</li></ol>

Word 4
<ol> On the Edit menu, click Preferences.</li> Click to select Show Hidden Text.</li> Click OK.</li></ol> </li></ol>

NOTE: Item 7 was corrected in Word 4.0a. For an update to the current version of Word, call Microsoft Sales Information Center (800) 426-9400. If you are outside the United States, contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To locate your subsidiary, see the Microsoft World Wide Offices Web site at:

http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/

Additional query words: calculate

Keywords: kbprb KB23532

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