XL98: Natural Language Formula Returns Zero Value (183756)

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you enter the formula in the same column or row as the label that you are referencing. Natural language formulas seek out the label you are referencing by first searching to the left and then searching above the formula you entered.

WORKAROUND

When you use natural label formulas, do not enter formulas in the same column or row as the label you are referencing. Instead, enter the formula in a column to the right of or in a row below the label that you are referencing.

MORE INFORMATION

When you use natural language formulas, it is not necessary to create defined names or determine the cell ranges in advance. Microsoft Excel 98 determines the range based on the row and column labels that you provide in the table on the worksheet.

Example

To set up the example, type the following data in a worksheet:

   A1:              B1: First Quarter  C1: Second Quarter
   A2: Product A    B2: 100            C2: 50
   A3: Product B    B3: 110            C3: 60
   A4: Product C    B4: 120            C4: 70

In this example, the following formula returns the value 150 for the sum of Product A:

= Sum('Product A')

However, this formula returns a 0 (zero) if you enter it in column A (for example, in cell A5). For additional information about using natural language formulas, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

161881 XL97: How to Use Natural Language Formulas

REFERENCES

For more information about natural language formulas, click Contents And Index on the Help menu (or on the Balloon Help menu if you are using a version of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 8.0), click the Index button in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

fomulas, names

and then click Show Topics. Select the "About labels and names in formulas" topic, and click Go To. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.