Summing a column, result coming up 0

[thomasjefferson]

I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations. In
column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value of 1, 2,
3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely coming, probably,
possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column G), I have successfully
managed to use the IF function to enter in each cell as a decimal number
between 0 and 1 the probability that that guest will come. Here is the
formula for the first cell in that column:
=IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4,".2"))))

So far so good.

Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
=SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm looking at
a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four results in them (i.e.,
..95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by hand, I get a result of 222.6.

Please help me.

[Dodo]

=?Utf-8?B?dGhvbWFzamVmZmVyc29u?=
<[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations.
> In column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value
> of 1, 2, 3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely
> coming, probably, possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column
> G), I have successfully managed to use the IF function to enter in
> each cell as a decimal number between 0 and 1 the probability that
> that guest will come. Here is the formula for the first cell in that
> column: =IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4,".2"))))
>
> So far so good.
>
> Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
> =SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm
> looking at a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four
> results in them (i.e., .95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by
> hand, I get a result of 222.6.
>
> Please help me.
>

That is because you do not assign values but text! Drop the " and the
result will be better.


--

It is I, DeauDeau
(Free after monsieur Leclerc in 'Allo, 'allo)

[KL]

Hi,

Just remove all quotation marks (") from your formulae. Currently they
return text (".45") instead of numeric values (.45).

Regards,
KL


"thomasjefferson" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
> I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations. In
> column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value of 1,
> 2,
> 3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely coming, probably,
> possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column G), I have successfully
> managed to use the IF function to enter in each cell as a decimal number
> between 0 and 1 the probability that that guest will come. Here is the
> formula for the first cell in that column:
> =IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4,".2"))))
>
> So far so good.
>
> Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
> =SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm looking
> at
> a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four results in them
> (i.e.,
> .95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by hand, I get a result of
> 222.6.
>
> Please help me.

[bigwheel]

You get the answer 0 because you're summing text values. ".95" is text, but
if you change the formula to
=IF(F2=1,0.95,IF(F2=2,0.75,IF(F2=3,0.45,IF(F2=4,0.2)))) you will get numbers
which will give you a total when you sum them.

"thomasjefferson" wrote:

> I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations. In
> column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value of 1, 2,
> 3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely coming, probably,
> possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column G), I have successfully
> managed to use the IF function to enter in each cell as a decimal number
> between 0 and 1 the probability that that guest will come. Here is the
> formula for the first cell in that column:
> =IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4,".2"))))
>
> So far so good.
>
> Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
> =SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm looking at
> a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four results in them (i.e.,
> .95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by hand, I get a result of 222.6.
>
> Please help me.

[thomasjefferson]

Wow. You guys rock. Thank you so much for the simple answer to my dilemma.
I tried Excel's help screen and Microsoft.com's database, but I just couldn't
figure it out.

"thomasjefferson" wrote:

> I'm trying to use a spreadsheet as a database for wedding invitations. In
> column F, I have assigned each row (each individual guest) a value of 1, 2,
> 3, or 4 according to whether I judge they are definitely coming, probably,
> possibly, or doubtful. In the next column (column G), I have successfully
> managed to use the IF function to enter in each cell as a decimal number
> between 0 and 1 the probability that that guest will come. Here is the
> formula for the first cell in that column:
> =IF(F2=1,".95",IF(F2=2,".75",IF(F2=3,".45",IF(F2=4,".2"))))
>
> So far so good.
>
> Here's the problem. When I try to sum column G, with the formula
> =SUM(G2:G294), Excel insists that the answer is 0, even though I'm looking at
> a column of 293 cells, all of which have one of four results in them (i.e.,
> .95, .75, .45, or .2). When I sum column G by hand, I get a result of 222.6.
>
> Please help me.