Subtracting data from more then 2 columns

Aimee Colton

Hello,

I have been trying to subtract numerical data from three different columns, and I have tried

=[Submitted HRs]@row-[Lunch Time]@row-[Contracted HRs]@row and get invalid operation

I tried using parathesis

=([Submitted HRs]@row - [Lunch Time]@row) - [Contracted HRs]@row and get an invalid operation

I have also tried

=sum([Submitted HRs]@row-[Lunch Time]@row)-[Contracted HRs]@row) and get Unparsebale

Is there no simple formula for subtracting data?

BTW does it matter if one of the columns is a dropdown list of numbers?

Paul Newcome

Exactly how are each of the three columns being populated? It sounds like at least one of them is potentially storing text data.

Aimee Colton

Hi Paul,

submitted HR is a total from two other columns (a two-column subtraction formula)

lunchtime is via a form and has a drop-down of options

contracted hr is a formula based on which day of the week it is.

Paul Newcome

Are you able to provide the formulas? Also try wrapping each one in a VALUE function.

=VALUE([Column A]@row) - VALUE([Column B]@row)

Aimee Colton

Aimee Colton

Thanks Paul, that has worked prefectly

Paul Newcome

Happy to help. 👍️