Article ID: 118521
Article Last Modified on 8/16/2005
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 6.0a
- Microsoft Word 6.0c
- Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 95a
- Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Word 98 for Macintosh
This article was previously published under Q118521
SYMPTOMS
The SUM formula field may update incorrectly if text exists in a cell of a row or column when using one of the following predefined formula fields:
=SUM(LEFT)
=SUM(RIGHT)
=SUM(BELOW)
=SUM(ABOVE)
NOTE: Text is considered to be any non-number character, including a footnote reference mark.
In the following table, the first and second rows will update correctly. If the text is in a cell immediately adjacent to the formula, the calculation updates correctly.
---------------------------------------------------------
| 1 | 2 | 3 | =SUM(LEFT) |
---------------------------------------------------------
| 1 | 2 | TEXT | =SUM(LEFT) |
---------------------------------------------------------
| 1 | TEXT | 3 | =SUM(LEFT) |
---------------------------------------------------------
The third row produces an incorrect result, as shown in the table below.
---------------------------------------------------------
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
---------------------------------------------------------
| 1 | 2 | TEXT | 3 |
---------------------------------------------------------
| 1 | TEXT | 3 | 3 |
---------------------------------------------------------
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use either of the following methods.
Method 1
Specify a range of cells in your formula, for example:
{=sum(a1:a3)}
Method 2
Specify a series of cells in your formula, for example:
{=sum(a1,a2,a3)}
Additional query words: formula expression incorrect calculate calculation
Keywords: kbualink97 kbprb kbfield kbformula KB118521
