WD: Plus Sign Causes Error, Incorrect Result in Formula

 Last reviewed: February 3, 1998
Article ID: Q146646
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1
  • Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you calculate the sum of a series of cells which contain numbers preceded by a plus (+) sign, the result is incorrectly shown as zero.

When you calculate the average for this same series you get one of the following errors: 

   !Zero Divide (Windows platform)

   !Number too large to format (Macintosh platform)
When you calculate a column of numbers that contains a combination of positive and negative numbers, the result is incorrect. For example, Word shows the resulting sum for the following set of numbers as -11 instead of the correct sum of 1. 

    +2
    -5
   +10
    -6

WORKAROUND

Method 1

Remove the plus signs. The plus sign is not required by Word to identify the number as positive.

Method 2

Add a column to your table, move the plus signs to the new column, and then update the formula field.

STATUS

We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: math wrong 8.0 8.00
Keywords : kbfield kbformula macword winword word7 word8 word95 word97 macword98 kberrmsg
Version : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98;WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a,97
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug
Solution Type : kbworkaround

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Last reviewed: February 3, 1998
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