Why do I get #### when I Autosum in Excel?

[Otter Daughter]

Windows XP SP3.
I am a newbie in Excel.
I am using the AutoSum function. Sometimes, I get correct dollar figure.
Other times, I get a row of ##### signs, but no digits. I cannot figure out
why this happens, and how to prevent or undo it. Any suggestions?

 

[Roger Govier]

HI

Try widening the column where the ##### appears

--
Regards
Roger Govier

Windows XP SP3.
I am a newbie in Excel.
I am using the AutoSum function. Sometimes, I get correct dollar figure.
Other times, I get a row of ##### signs, but no digits. I cannot figure
out
why this happens, and how to prevent or undo it. Any suggestions?
--
Otter Daughter

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signature database 4739 (20100103) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

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__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4739 (20100103) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

 

[Dave Peterson]

Try widening the column--or using a smaller font.

If that doesn't help, make sure that the cell isn't formatted as date/time and
the value isn't negative.

There are other things that can cause this--but I don't think they apply in your
case:

Saved from a previous post.

It could mean a few things.

1. The columnwidth is too narrow to show the number.

Widen the column or change the font size of that cell. Or change the
numberformat to General.

2. You have a date/time in that cell and it's negative

Don't use negative dates. If excel was helping you, it may have
changed the format to a date. Change it back to General (or some
other number format).

If you need to see negative date/times:
Tools|options|Calculation Tab|and check 1904 date system
(but this can cause trouble--watch what happens to your dates
and watch what happens when you copy|paste dates to a different
workbook that doesn't use this setting)

3. You have a lot of text in the cell, the cell is formatted as Text.

Format the cell as general.

4. You really have ###'s in that cell.

Clean up that cell.

5. You have # in a cell, but it's format is set to Fill.

Change the format
(format|cells|alignment tab|horizontal box, change it to General.