XL97: COUNTA Function Changed to COUNT (165260)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q165260

SYMPTOMS

When you open a file in Microsoft Excel 97, worksheet formulas that contain the COUNTA function may be changed so that they use the COUNT function instead. Also, depending on your data, the value returned by the formula that uses the COUNT function may be changed.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

  • You create the file in Microsoft Excel. -and-

  • You use the COUNTA worksheet function. -and-

  • You save the file in the Lotus 1-2-3 .wk1 format, and then reopen the file.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:
  1. Open the .wk1 file on a computer running an earlier version of Microsoft Excel.
  2. In this earlier version of Microsoft Excel, click Save As on the File menu.
  3. In the Save As dialog box, change the name of the file. Then, select a different file format, such as Microsoft Excel Workbook or WK3(1-2-3) in the Save As Type list.
  4. Click Save.
When you open the file in Microsoft Excel 97, the COUNTA function is retained.

NOTE: Lotus 1-2-3 does not support the COUNTA function. Also, when you open a .wk1 or .wks file in Microsoft Excel, the COUNT function is not automatically converted to the COUNTA function.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

158540 XL97: Results Unchanged Toggling Transition Formula Evaluation

REFERENCES

For more information about the Count function, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

counta

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "COUNTA" topic.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/22/2000
Keywords:KB165260
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