IF function returning incorrect result

I am trying to perform what I think should be a simple function - trying to
convert an alpha character to a specified numeric value. I have a column that
contains either a C, E or N that I need to assign a numeric value to as
follows: C=1, E or N=0. I My column header (A1) is C and I am using the IF
function to do this conversion. The function popup window it is putting the
correct result but when I press okay the wrong value is displayed. For
example my value in A2 is C, so I set the formula up to say if A2=A1 is true,
value returned should be 1, if A2=A1 is false, value returned should be 0.
The formula is telling me that this is a true statement, but it keeps
returning the false value of 0. I am on Windows 2000 Professional with Excel
2002. This should be a simple conversion, but it will not work and it is
driving me crazy. I am sure I must be doing something obviously wrong. Is it
because I am attempting to compare text to text with the = sign? Any help or
suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

as ALWAYS, post your efforts for comments

--
Don Guillett
SalesAid Software
[email protected]
"Hillary E." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am trying to perform what I think should be a simple function - trying to
> convert an alpha character to a specified numeric value. I have a column
> that
> contains either a C, E or N that I need to assign a numeric value to as
> follows: C=1, E or N=0. I My column header (A1) is C and I am using the IF
> function to do this conversion. The function popup window it is putting
> the
> correct result but when I press okay the wrong value is displayed. For
> example my value in A2 is C, so I set the formula up to say if A2=A1 is
> true,
> value returned should be 1, if A2=A1 is false, value returned should be 0.
> The formula is telling me that this is a true statement, but it keeps
> returning the false value of 0. I am on Windows 2000 Professional with
> Excel
> 2002. This should be a simple conversion, but it will not work and it is
> driving me crazy. I am sure I must be doing something obviously wrong. Is
> it
> because I am attempting to compare text to text with the = sign? Any help
> or
> suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
>
>

What formula are you trying? Perhaps you just need

=(A2=A$1)+0