Mathematical Operators

[Guest]

Hi

I am very new to excel, and in the table I have created I am attempting to have one column equal to the multiplication of two columns, i.e. column 3 = [column2]*[column1]. The access help gave some indication that the syntax of something like this would b

=[Rated Volts]*[Load Factor

In the column that I want the result of this calculation to be in, but all it does is sit there as text. Any help on how to do this would be greatly appreciated. Thank

Brian

 

[Guest]

Just noticed that I typed excel instead of access, this question does pertain to access. Thanks

Bria

----- Brian McGuire wrote: ----

Hi

I am very new to excel, and in the table I have created I am attempting to have one column equal to the multiplication of two columns, i.e. column 3 = [column2]*[column1]. The access help gave some indication that the syntax of something like this would b

=[Rated Volts]*[Load Factor

In the column that I want the result of this calculation to be in, but all it does is sit there as text. Any help on how to do this would be greatly appreciated. Thank

Brian

 

[fredg]

Hi,

I am very new to excel, and in the table I have created I am attempting to
have one column equal to the multiplication of two columns,
i.e. column 3 = [column2]*[column1]. The access help gave some
indication that the syntax of something like this would be
=[Rated Volts]*[Load Factor]

In the column that I want the result of this calculation to be in,
but all it does is sit there as text. Any help on how to do this
would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Brian

Brian,
You message says "I am very new to excel", but I suppose you mean new
to Access.
Remember, this is Access, a relational database, not Excel, a flat
database.

In Access, the table is used just to hold data.
And the data in any field should be atomic, i.e. the minimum needed.
Therefore, in Access, it OK to store the value in [Rated Volts] and
the value in [Load Factor]. But it is NOT OK to store the computed
value of [Rated Volts] * [Load Factor] (unless there is compelling
reason to do so).

That computation can quite easily be done at any time, in a Form, or
Query, or Report. But Access tables do not support expressions.

So, whenever you do need that computation, let's say in a Report,
simply add an unbound control to the report.
Set it's control source to:
=[Rated Volts] * [Load Factor]

 

[Roger Carlson]

You cannot store formulas in an Access table like you can in Excel. All you
can store in an Access table are real values. However, you can create a
query, add both fields to it and create a third column with the following in
the column name:
Column3: Column2*Column1
This will display the result without saving it. BTW, you DO NOT want to
save such a value as it can be calculated anytime you want it.

--
--Roger Carlson
www.rogersaccesslibrary.com
Reply to: Roger dot Carlson at Spectrum-Health dot Org

Hi,

I am very new to excel, and in the table I have created I am attempting to

have one column equal to the multiplication of two columns, i.e. column 3 =
[column2]*[column1]. The access help gave some indication that the syntax of
something like this would be

=[Rated Volts]*[Load Factor]

In the column that I want the result of this calculation to be in, but all

it does is sit there as text. Any help on how to do this would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks