Can't get SUM function to work in Excel 2000

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. All I'm trying to do is add a column of
numbers. In cell L13, my formula is =SUM(L2:L12). All I get back is 0. I've
checked the formatting of the cells and they are all numeric. I have also
tried adding cells manually, e.g., =L2+L3 -- and I get the correct result.
I'm pretty sure I've used this function before without any problems. What am
I doing wrong?

I was having a little problem with setting the formatting. Most of my
spreadsheet contains wrappable text, and I had set the style for that. Then
when I tried to adjust my numeric columns, it kept applying the numeric
format to the entire worksheet until I figured out how to specify a separate
style for those columns. Could I have messed something up there?
 
By the way, I have tried it by typing in the formula directly and using the
SUM icon and selecting the range of cells. All I receive is 0.
 
Sounds like that data is formatted as text.

Reformat the column as General, put 1 in a cell and copy it, then select the
column and goto Edit>Pastespecial and click Multiply.
 
Thank you -- That worked! I had definitely set the column style to the
"number" format, not text -- so why do you think it was treating it as text?
 
Hard to say Ros. You were obviously trying something as you said and there
is no way to know what exactly might have happened.
 
Back
Top