negative dates or times are displayed as # # # #

[Guest]

I have two cells that carry two different times as follow
cell A1 has 00:05:00
cell A2 has 00:04:00
cell A3 should display the difference in negative way(-00:01:00). I only get
##### instead of the answer in cell A3 and a message reads (negative dates or
times are displayed as # # # #) Your help will be much appricated. thanks

 

[Bernard Liengme]

That's what Excel does; it cannot work with negative time/dates
You could try =ABS(A2-A1) and have a flag in an adjacent cell
=IF(A2<A1,"Neg","Pos")
best wishes

 

[Gord Dibben]

This is normal.

Excel doesn't like negative dates and times.

For a workaround see John Walkenbach's site.

http://www.j-walk.com/ss/excel/usertips/tip051.htm


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Guest]

Thak you Bernard. Your idea has done the trick. Thaks for your help.
Amr