Does the Sum() Function Have Little Foibles?

[abrogard]

I was using that automatic sum() function today and it did funny things.

I mean that one where you simply highlight a column and then click the SIGMA sign on the menu at the top.

It would put the answer in a cell below the cell the cursor was in. Below the cell that is usually puts the answer in.

A couple of times it even put the answer in a cell below that!

And a couple of time I tried to copy into a blank cell and calc queried if I really wanted to put data into a cell that already had stuff in it!

My computer or Calc or that spreadsheet playing up or there’s some hidden features that I don’t know about and should look out for?

[mikekaganski]

You need to provide specific examples, like “in this attached spreadsheet, selecting column A and pressing Σ gives the sum in A20, while I expect it in A19; selecting B and doing the same places sum into B50, when I expect to B40… Why?”

By the way, when you write “simply highlight a column”, do you actually mean clicking on title of, say, column A to select it all? Or you actually select a range, like A1:A20?

[keme]

The sigma tool will put the sum formula in the first available (i.e. unused) cell in the proximity of the sum range.

If the placement of the sum formula skips cells, it is most likely because those skipped cells have some content. If the skipped cells appear blank, the usual suspect is the “space character”.

Do you by any chance “clear” your cells by pressing the spacebar? If yes, then stop it! Blank your cells by delete or backspace, or similar operations from the context menus.