Thread: Formula contains an error I cannot see

Hi all,
I’m having trouble with a formula. I have entered a formula but excel keeps telling me that “the formula I have typed contains an error”. I think it is correct and I can’t see the problem. I’m hoping you can help me. As a relative novice with excel I’m not sure if the problem is with my formula, or if I have infringed on an excel programming rule. Here is the function;

In plain English, if the entry for a particular month is left blank, then a zero should be entered into the equation for that month added to the entries for the other months. This is to prevent a charge being entered into the function when there is no entry for that month. Then, if the total of all the entries is below a number in another cell, then the first function is not needed and a zero is entered, also if the total of all the entries is above a number in an adjacent cell, then the first function is not needed and a zero is entered. This is to set the upper and lower limits within which the function is expressed. Then, if there is only an upper limit or lower limit, or if there are no limits, or both limits present then different equations are needed to express a limits presence or absence.

IF(J9=””,(IF(K9=””,(IF(D11=””,0,IF(E11=””,0,(B24*C11)))+IF(D12=””,0,IF(E12=””,0,(B24*C12)))+IF(D13=” ”,0,IF(E13=””,0,(B24*C13)))+IF(D14=””,0,IF(E14=””,0,(B24*C14)))+IF(D15=””,0,IF(E15=””,0,(B24*C15)))+ IF(D16=””,0,IF(E16=””,0,(B24*C16)))),(IF(SUM(D11:E16)>K9,0,(IF(D11=””,0,IF(E11=””,0,(B24*C11)))+IF(D 12=””,0,IF(E12=””,0,(B24*C12)))+IF(D13=””,0,IF(E13=””,0,(B24*C13)))+IF(D14=””,0,IF(E14=””,0,(B24*C14 )))+IF(D15=””,0,IF(E15=””,0,(B24*C15)))+IF(D16=””,0,IF(E16=””,0,(B24*C16)))))))),(IF(K9=””,(IF(SUM(D 11:E16)<J9,0,(IF(D11=””,0,IF(E11=””,0,(B24*C11)))+IF(D12=””,0,IF(E12=””,0,(B24*C12)))+IF(D13=””,0,IF (E13=””,0,(B24*C13)))+IF(D14=””,0,IF(E14=””,0,(B24*C14)))+IF(D15=””,0,IF(E15=””,0,(B24*C15)))+IF(D16 =””,0,IF(E16=””,0,(B24*C16)))))),(IF(SUM(D11:E16)<J9,0,IF(SUM(D11:E16)>K9,0,(IF(D11=””,0,IF(E11=””,0 ,(B24*C11)))+IF(D12=””,0,IF(E12=””,0,(B24*C12)))+IF(D13=””,0,IF(E13=””,0,(B24*C13)))+IF(D14=””,0,IF( E14=””,0,(B24*C14)))+IF(D15=””,0,IF(E15=””,0,(B24*C15)))+IF(D16=””,0,IF(E16=””,0, (B24*C16))))))))))

I would be grateful for any help you can give.

Can you upload a file - somewhat harder to diagnose just reading the formula