Microsoft KB Archive/183756

= XL98: Natural Language Formula Returns Zero Value =

Article ID: 183756

Article Last Modified on 9/11/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q183756



SYMPTOMS
When you calculate a formula using column or row labels as a reference in a natural language formula, the formula returns a zero value.



CAUSE
This problem occurs when you enter the formula in the same column or row as the label that you are referencing. Natural language formulas seek out the label you are referencing by first searching to the left and then searching above the formula you entered.



WORKAROUND
When you use natural label formulas, do not enter formulas in the same column or row as the label you are referencing. Instead, enter the formula in a column to the right of or in a row below the label that you are referencing.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.



MORE INFORMATION
When you use natural language formulas, it is not necessary to create defined names or determine the cell ranges in advance. Microsoft Excel 98 determines the range based on the row and column labels that you provide in the table on the worksheet.

Example
To set up the example, type the following data in a worksheet:   A1:              B1: First Quarter  C1: Second Quarter A2: Product A   B2: 100            C2: 50 A3: Product B   B3: 110            C3: 60 A4: Product C   B4: 120            C4: 70 In this example, the following formula returns the value 150 for the sum of Product A:

= Sum('Product A')

However, this formula returns a 0 (zero) if you enter it in column A (for example, in cell A5). For additional information about using natural language formulas, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

161881 XL97: How to Use Natural Language Formulas

