MAX & MAXA returning 0 value

[Guest]

I am trying to simply get the highest value in a column.

I have tried both MAX & MAXA functions, as well as ensured the values are
formatted as a number (although maxa doesn't seem to require this).

The values in the column are derived from another via the mid text function,
but the cells are in fact formatted as numbers.

There are 300 rows evaluated in the formula, but even when I try just 3
values, I still get the same 0 answer. I've also done the "show precedents"
arrows, and I am evaluating the correct ranges. I've even checked that I have
automatic calculation enabled. No error messages are coming up.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Guest]

Totally mystified...

I type a number into a cell, and another number in the cell below.
I type max(a1, a2).
I get an answer of 0.

 

[Guest]

just because the cells are formatted as numbers, does not mean the contents
are numbers even if they look like it

in your equations using mid()
change to =value(mid(xxx))

 

[Guest]

So... despite formatting the cells as numbers, the mid function overrides it
as text.

Solution: value(mid(a1, 5, 2))
Where a1 is the original text cell, 5 is the first letter in the text to
copy, and 2 is the # of letters to copy.

 

[Guest]

should work. I am personally disapointed in the description of Maxa. it is
easy to imply that it would look at "2" and read it as 2 rather than 0

 

[Guest]

if there is a chance that there would be a leading or trailing space in your
mid function use
=value(trim(mid(a1, 5, 2)))

 

[Guest]

Many thanks!

should work. I am personally disapointed in the description of Maxa. it is
easy to imply that it would look at "2" and read it as 2 rather than 0