=SUMPRODUCT

[ArthurN]

Hi,
I saw this formula:
=SUMPRODUCT(--(A2:A65536<>""),--(B2:B65536=""))
And I have no idea what "--" means, I tried searching the manual and the
internet but found nothing.
ArthurN

[Domenic]

Have a look at the following link...

http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/formulae/doubleneg.html

Cheers!

In article <[email protected]>,
ArthurN <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi,
> I saw this formula:
> =SUMPRODUCT(--(A2:A65536<>""),--(B2:B65536=""))
> And I have no idea what "--" means, I tried searching the manual and the
> internet but found nothing.
> ArthurN

[Carim]

To put it simply, Sumproduct() is a function which ignores alphabetic cells,
the operator -- ( called Unary Minus ) transforms alpahabetic cells into numbers : 0 and 1, thus allowing combination with all other numeric cells ...

Hope this clarifies
Carim

[Teodomiro]

To put it simply, Sumproduct() is a function which ignores alphabetic cells,
the operator -- ( called Unary Minus ) transforms alpahabetic cells into numbers : 0 and 1, thus allowing combination with all other numeric cells ...

Hope this clarifies
Carim

I had never encountered this problem before. I discovered Sumproduct here: http://www.excel-vba.com/e-formula-sumproduct.htm

He uses an asterisk in place of the comma, like this: =SUMPRODUCT((A1:B10=C1)*(B1:B10)). This works just fine. I understand the use of the double negative above, but I don't see why using the asterisk would alleviate that problem. Can someone explain what's going on there?

[Ragdyer]

Here's a more extensive explanation by Bob Philips:

http://www.xldynamic.com/source/xld.SUMPRODUCT.html


--
HTH,

RD

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"Teodomiro" <[email protected]> wrote
in message news:[email protected]...
>
> Carim Wrote:
> > To put it simply, Sumproduct() is a function which ignores alphabetic
> > cells,
> > the operator -- ( called Unary Minus ) transforms alpahabetic cells
> > into numbers : 0 and 1, thus allowing combination with all other
> > numeric cells ...
> >
> > Hope this clarifies
> > Carim
>
> I had never encountered this problem before. I discovered Sumproduct
> here: http://www.excel-vba.com/e-formula-sumproduct.htm
>
> He uses an asterisk in place of the comma, like this:
> =SUMPRODUCT((A1:B10=C1)*(B1:B10)). This works just fine. I understand
> the use of the double negative above, but I don't see why using the
> asterisk would alleviate that problem. Can someone explain what's
> going on there?
>
>
> --
> Teodomiro
>
>
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> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=531246
>

[Teodomiro]

Here's a more extensive explanation by Bob Philips:

http://www.xldynamic.com/source/xld.SUMPRODUCT.html

Perfect. Thank you!