excel97 True False formula not reading cell value correctly

[Lee]

Having a problem with a simple true false formula. Assume A1 contains
the value "E" and B1 contains the formula: if(A1="E",1,0). when true,
it should return 1, but only returns 0. The format menu, cell, number
tab, has 'number' checked. However, it's interesting that the sample
format box shows 0 when it should show a 1.
In a column of formulas, only 2 worked properly (and the cell format
box did show a 1 in these 2 cases), with no evidence as to why those
two formulas worked properly and all others were wrong. I give up -
Help someone, please.
Lee

 

[Lance]

Are you sure A1 = E and not E+"space"

try if(Trim(A1)="E",1,0)

Lance

 

[Ken Wright]

Gord and Lance likely have the reason for your error as well as some solutions, but just in case
you want another, I would clean the data first using Dave McRitchie's Trimall macro. This will
clear out all the garbage in your data, and is well worth keeping a copy of in your personal.xls
for future use. Works well on data pulled from the web as that often has garabage in it in the
form of extra spaces / characters etc. Then hopefully your formauls will work as they are:-

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/join.htm#trimall