Problems with a simple formula

[Slaz]

Using Excel 2002

Can't believe this! I have a spreadsheet that totals my services;
calculates the taxes and than I send it of as an invoice. I've taken up
a job that involves traveling and the company pays fuel expenses at 14%
of my total daily invoiced amount. I'm attempting to add this amount to
my invoice and I can't get it to work. The formula is about as simple as
you can get: this is what I have been trying. =sum(.14*I28). I28 is the
total of my invoice before I add the fuel charge. All that will show is
a blank cell; no error shows at all. Interesting think is that I can try
a similar formula referencing a different total on the same spreadsheet
and it works. It just doesn't want to take 14% of my invoice total at I28!
Obviously I'm doing something wrong!!!

 

[Fred Smith]

First, you can make the formula simpler by using:
=.14*I28

You don't need the Sum function, as you're not summing anything.

However, that's unlikely to solve your problem.

Next, you should copy and paste your formulas when you post to these groups
so we know exactly what you are using. Lots of times people type in the
formula they think they have, but it's not what they are actually using,
which makes it impossible to solve their problem. But again, I doubt that's
the problem here.

If your result is a blank cell, my best guess it you are using a white font
in the cell. Try changing the font color to see if that helps.

Regards,
Fred

 

[Slaz]

First, you can make the formula simpler by using:
=.14*I28

You don't need the Sum function, as you're not summing anything.

However, that's unlikely to solve your problem.

Next, you should copy and paste your formulas when you post to these
groups so we know exactly what you are using. Lots of times people type
in the formula they think they have, but it's not what they are actually
using, which makes it impossible to solve their problem. But again, I
doubt that's the problem here.

If your result is a blank cell, my best guess it you are using a white
font in the cell. Try changing the font color to see if that helps.

Regards,
Fred

Thanks for your quick reply.

Fonts can't be set to white as I tried a simple addition formula and it
showed. I was incorrect when I said that the cell was blank. It does
show a $ sign and a - sign. My Bad!
This is a copy and paste of the formula I have been trying. =SUM(0.14*I28)

 

[Fred Smith]

If the result is $-, it sounds like a custom format. Check the format of the
cell, or simply change the format to a number and see if that helps.

Regards,
Fred

 

[Slaz]

If the result is $-, it sounds like a custom format. Check the format of
the cell, or simply change the format to a number and see if that helps.

Regards,
Fred

Thank you; I got it to work. I changed the number format from currency
to general and the figure showed. I than changed it back to currency and
it worked! Go figure!!!!