Autosum - Strange Behavior

[teddytech]

I'm using AUTOSUM in Excel 2003 and either I'm using it wrong or it's
broke.

Here's the situation:
o in cells A1 & A2 put the number 2
o in cell B1 put an =A1
o in cell B2 put a =SUM(A1.A2)
o now highlight cells B1 through B3
o Click on the AUTOSUM button (the sigma symbol)
o I expect B3 to have a value of 6. It has a value of 4.
o Also, if you highlight only B1 and B2 and press AUTOSUM it puts
a 2 in cell B2 instead of a 6 in B3 as I would expect.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Bart Snel]

Put the cursor in B3, click autosum and select B1:B2

Bart Snel

 

[Teddy]

Thanks, Bart. That gives me a way to make it work.

However, isn't the "select, then autosum" way supposed to work also?


Teddy

 

[Bart Snel]

Well, it works for A1:A2, so I guess maybe it has to do with there being two
different formulas in cells B1 and B2

Bart Snel

 

[JE McGimpsey]

However, isn't the "select, then autosum" way supposed to work also?

According to Help, AutoSum only selects ranges if the cells contain
numbers (i.e., not formulae).

 

[Teddy]

Bart,
I did some more research and it looks like I've been doing it wrong all
the time. The only references I can find
show the process as you described. Select the target cell, click the
AUTOSUM button (or alt+=), and then
select the range. Guess I'll have to change my method.

Thanks for your help.

Teddy