WD97: Incorrect Formula Results Using ABOVE, BELOW, LEFT, RIGHT

ID: Q185056

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use a formula field in a table, the result is incorrect if the following are true:

You use ABOVE, BELOW, LEFT, or RIGHT as an argument for the field.

-and-

The defined range contains noncontiguous values (one or more blank cells between two values).

For example, the formula in cell A6 of the following table shows a result of 7 instead of 12:


   |------------------|
   |               3  | <(Cell A1)
   |------------------|
   |                  | <(Cell A2)
   |------------------|
   |               4  | <(Cell A3)
   |------------------|
   |                  | <(Cell A4)
   |------------------|
   |               5  | <(Cell A5)
   |------------------|
   |   {=SUM(ABOVE)}  | <(Cell A6)
   |------------------|

CAUSE

Word calculates all values correctly up to and including the first cell after an empty table cell, and then stops.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Type Zero (0) in Any Blank Cells

Type zero (0) in any blank cells included within the calculation range, for example:


   |------------------|
   |               3  | <(Cell A1)
   |------------------|
   |               0  | <(Cell A2)
   |------------------|
   |               4  | <(Cell A3)
   |------------------|
   |               0  | <(Cell A4)
   |------------------|
   |               5  | <(Cell A5)
   |------------------|
   |   {=SUM(ABOVE)}  | <(Cell A6)
   |------------------|

Method 2: Use Cell References

For a range that contains one or more blank cells, use cell references to define the range instead of ABOVE, BELOW, LEFT, or RIGHT. For example, use the following formula field to obtain a correct result:


   |------------------|
   |               3  | <(Cell A1)
   |------------------|
   |                  | <(Cell A2)
   |------------------|
   |               4  | <(Cell A3)
   |------------------|
   |                  | <(Cell A4)
   |------------------|
   |               5  | <(Cell A5)
   |------------------|
   |   {=SUM(A1:A5)}  | <(Cell A6)
   |------------------|

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 articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q118521 WD: SUM Formula Does Not Update Correctly

Q105639 WD: Table Formula SUM(Above) Adds Number from Heading Row

Q113980 WD: Wrong Calculation Result with Bookmarks in Table

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbdta kbformula word97 kbtable
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug