complex number in excel 2003 sp3

[ilver belletti]

I run Excel 2003 sp3,Italian language settings, in the Windows XP sp3
operating system. I have created an Excel sheet including equations with
complex numbers. I have verified that if I use the comma as decimal separator
and the point as thousands separator, Italian number setting, this sheet runs
well. While if I use the point as decimal separator and the comma as thousand
separator, USA number setting, the sheet doesn' t work. It is strange because
all the other sheets without complex number equations work well in both the
situation. The problem is that I need to change between the two number
settings because with the Italian one I can' t import datas with numbers in
the USA format, while with USA number setting I can' t use the complex
number. Is it normal this situation ? Can someone explain me if there is
something wrong, in the Excel installation for example ?
Best Regards
Ilver Belletti

 

[Jim Rech]

I don't remember much about complex numbers. Can you provide a simple
example that demonstrates the problem?

 

[ilver belletti]

If you are using the USA number setting please:
in the box A1 write 3.4
In the box A2 write 2.1
in the box A3 =complex(a1;a2)
if the program runs correct you sholud see 3.4+2.1i in the A3 box
If you don' t see this you have yet verified the problem.
If the USA number setting works well, save the excel file and change the
number setting to the Italian one:
decimal separator , the comma
thousand separator . the point
reload the excel file
if you don' t see
A1 3,4
A2 2,1
A3 3,4+2,1i
You have verified that changing the number setting the result is not the same.
Best Regards
Ilver Belletti

 

[Jim Rech]

I started with US settings and everything worked as you said. Then I
switched to Italian settings, re-opened the workbook and saw this:

A1 3,4
A2 2,1
A3 3.4+2.1i

Cell A3 was still in US format. But this is because the workbook had not
been recalculated. Excel is too smart for itself sometimes so even with
automatic calculation set and even if you press F9, Excel does not recalc A3
because it knows that the precedent cells A1 and A2 have not changed.

But if you force Excel to recalculate, by pressing Ctrl-Alt-F9, then A3
changes to 3,4+2,1i

Does that help?