WD: Wrong Calculation Result with Bookmarks in Table

ID: Q113980

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

A formula in Word may show an incorrect result if the calculation refers to a bookmark in a table when the bookmark includes the entire cell.

For example, the following table has two cells, with a bookmark applied to the first cell: 

           --------------------
          |    4     |    6    |
           --------------------
          ^--test1---^
The next paragraph contains a field that multiplies the bookmark: 

          { =test1*3 }
The result of the field is 30, but it should be 12.

CAUSE

When the bookmark includes the cell's boundary, it also includes information about the number of columns, which is then included in the calculation.

WORKAROUND

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

Method 1

Apply the bookmark only to the contents of a cell, not to the entire cell. This method is best when you expect that the contents of the cells won't change, or if you only reference one cell from the table.

Method 2

Use the following procedure to refer to the individual cells by applying a bookmark anywhere in the table. This method is most efficient when you need to use several cells from the table.

1. Place the insertion point somewhere in the table where a bookmark is 

   unlikely to ever be deleted.
2. From the Edit menu, choose Bookmark.

3. Type a name for the bookmark, such as "Table1" (without the quotation 

   marks).
4. Move the insertion point to the place where you want the formula.

5. Type the reference to the cell in the following format: 

          { =SUM(tablebookmarkname[cellreference]) }

   In the above example, the formula would look like this:

          { =SUM(Table1 A1)*3 }
To add two cells from the same table, apply the bookmark only once, as in steps b and c, and use a formula such as the following: 

          { =SUM(Table1 A1) + SUM(Table1 B1) }
Additional query words: 
Keywords          : winword macword kbtable word6 word7 word95 
Version           : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a; WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: March 17, 1999