summing a column gives me a date

  • Thread starter Thread starter jimfitegcs
  • Start date Start date
J

jimfitegcs

I have a worksheet with each month listed on the columns. I have each row
totaled out, and wish to total expenditures for the month. But when I do, I
get a date, and not a numerical value - which is what I want.
What am I doing wrong.
 
Without seeing the formula, it is impossible to give a meaningful
reply.

Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP 1998 - 2010
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
[email on web site]
 
What are you doing wrong? Probably nothing. It's just Excel trying to be
helpful. Simply format the cell to a number with whatever precision you
want.

Regards,
Fred
 
Probably the cell with the "totals" formula was preformatted as Date (unknown
to you). A simple remedy, just re-format that cell as number (via
Format>Cells>Number>OK). Success? hit the YES below
 
jimfitegcs said:
I get a date, and not a numerical value - which
is what I want. What am I doing wrong.
Click to expand...

Probably nothing. But it is impossible to say for sure without seeing the
formulas and the types of data involved. (Klunk!)

The date format is just that -- a format. Excel sometimes changes the
format on us in an attempt to read our mind and give us what it thinks we
want. It is frequently wrong. Sigh. And I don't think there is a way to
turn off that feature. How annoying!

Anyway, it's a "simple matter" to change the format to General or Number or
whatever you want.

After you do that, if the result is still not what you expect, post a reply
with some details that will help us help you.


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