Negative numbers in formulas

John,

Although it shows as ###### it does hold a true value that can be used in
subsequent calculations.

--

HTH

Bob Phillips
... looking out across Poole Harbour to the Purbecks
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

"John1215 " wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet that is used to find a total in hours and minutes
(hh:mm). The column total can result in a positive or negative number,
and the toal is carried forward to the next sheet at the end of a
period, say 30 days. If the result is a positve number then there is no
problem and the figure is carried forward without any errors, however
if the result is a negative number, Excel inputs ###### in the cell and
the figure is ignored. Can anyone tell me how to get Excel to recognise
the negative number to enable that figure to be carried forward and
included in future calculations. I know it is possible to manually
enter the number using quotes but this is tedious having to carry this
out wherever a negative result appears. I suspect that an IF function
can be used to cover this result but I am not sure how to include the
result so that Excel uses the negative number in its calculations. Any
help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

John1215


---
Message posted from http://www.ExcelForum.com/

Bob,

Yes, you're right. I can see that this is the case. Are you able to
tell me how to make the negative number appear using a custom format or
am I stuck with the ######'s

John


---
Message posted from http://www.ExcelForum.com/

John

FormatCellsCustom. Pick any format then delete everything in the dialog
boxOK

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 15:59:42 -0600, John1215
wrote:

Bob,

Yes, you're right. I can see that this is the case. Are you able to
tell me how to make the negative number appear using a custom format or
am I stuck with the ######'s

John


---
Message posted from http://www.ExcelForum.com/

The ###### means that the size of the cell is too small to display the font
size/format selected.
Drag column to enlarge cell or change the font size/format.

"John1215 " wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet that is used to find a total in hours and minutes
(hh:mm). The column total can result in a positive or negative number,
and the toal is carried forward to the next sheet at the end of a
period, say 30 days. If the result is a positve number then there is no
problem and the figure is carried forward without any errors, however
if the result is a negative number, Excel inputs ###### in the cell and
the figure is ignored. Can anyone tell me how to get Excel to recognise
the negative number to enable that figure to be carried forward and
included in future calculations. I know it is possible to manually
enter the number using quotes but this is tedious having to carry this
out wherever a negative result appears. I suspect that an IF function
can be used to cover this result but I am not sure how to include the
result so that Excel uses the negative number in its calculations. Any
help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

John1215


---
Message posted from http://www.ExcelForum.com/

No, you're well off there. Enter times as initially described and try it. No
matter how wide you make it, it will still show #####

--

HTH

Bob Phillips
... looking out across Poole Harbour to the Purbecks
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

"Qwerty" wrote in message
...
The ###### means that the size of the cell is too small to display the
font
size/format selected.
Drag column to enlarge cell or change the font size/format.

"John1215 " wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet that is used to find a total in hours and minutes
(hh:mm). The column total can result in a positive or negative number,
and the toal is carried forward to the next sheet at the end of a
period, say 30 days. If the result is a positve number then there is no
problem and the figure is carried forward without any errors, however
if the result is a negative number, Excel inputs ###### in the cell and
the figure is ignored. Can anyone tell me how to get Excel to recognise
the negative number to enable that figure to be carried forward and
included in future calculations. I know it is possible to manually
enter the number using quotes but this is tedious having to carry this
out wherever a negative result appears. I suspect that an IF function
can be used to cover this result but I am not sure how to include the
result so that Excel uses the negative number in its calculations. Any
help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

John1215


---
Message posted from http://www.ExcelForum.com/

OOPS! My bad. I never realized this.
I appreciate the lesson. May I take my foot out of my mouth now?

"Bob Phillips" wrote in message
...
No, you're well off there. Enter times as initially described and try it.
No
matter how wide you make it, it will still show #####

--

HTH

Bob Phillips
... looking out across Poole Harbour to the Purbecks
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

"Qwerty" wrote in message
...
The ###### means that the size of the cell is too small to display the
font
size/format selected.
Drag column to enlarge cell or change the font size/format.

"John1215 " wrote in message
...
I have a spreadsheet that is used to find a total in hours and minutes
(hh:mm). The column total can result in a positive or negative number,
and the toal is carried forward to the next sheet at the end of a
period, say 30 days. If the result is a positve number then there is
no
problem and the figure is carried forward without any errors, however
if the result is a negative number, Excel inputs ###### in the cell
and
the figure is ignored. Can anyone tell me how to get Excel to
recognise
the negative number to enable that figure to be carried forward and
included in future calculations. I know it is possible to manually
enter the number using quotes but this is tedious having to carry this
out wherever a negative result appears. I suspect that an IF function
can be used to cover this result but I am not sure how to include the
result so that Excel uses the negative number in its calculations. Any
help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

John1215


---
Message posted from http://www.ExcelForum.com/